Theranostics 2014; 4(4):399-411. doi:10.7150/thno.8171 This issue Cite
Research Paper
1. Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Translational Research and Therapy for Neuro-Psycho-Diseases, and College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Soochow University, Suzhou 215123, China
2. Radiology Department, Second Affiliated Hospital, Soochow University, Suzhou 215004, China
3. School for Radiological & Interdisciplinary sciences (RAD-X), and School of Radiation Medicine and Protection, Soochow University, Suzhou 215123, China
4. Laboratory of Molecular Imaging and Nanomedicine (LOMIN), National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering (NIBIB), National Institutes of Health Bethesda, Maryland 20892, United States
5. College of Life Science and Technology, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430074, China
6. State Key Laboratory of Molecular Vaccinology and Molecular Diagnostics & Center for Molecular Imaging and Translational Medicine, School of Public Health, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361102, China
# These authors contributed equally
It is highly desirable to develop theranostic nanoparticles for achieving cancer imaging with enhanced contrast and simultaneously multimodal synergistic therapy. Herein, we report a theranostic micelle system hierarchically assembling cyanine dye (indocyanine green) and chemotherapeutic compound (doxorubicin) (I/D-Micelles) as a novel theranostic platform with high drug loading, good stability and enhanced cellular uptake via clathrin-mediated endocytosis. I/D-Micelles exhibit the multiple functionalities including near-infrared fluorescence (NIRF), hyperthermia and intracellular singlet oxygen from indocyanine green, and simultaneous cytotoxicity from doxorubicin. Upon photoirradiation, I/D-Micelles can induce NIRF imaging, acute photothermal therapy via hyperthermia and simultaneous synergistic chemotherapy via singlet oxygen-triggered disruption of lysosomal membranes, eventually leading to enhanced NIRF imaging and superior tumor eradication without any re-growth. Our results suggest that the hierarchical micelles can act as a superior theranostic platform for cancer imaging and multimodal synergistic therapy.
Keywords: Hierarchical micelles, Photothermal therapy, Singlet oxygen, Synergistic therapy, Cancer eradication