Multifunctional Oxygenated Particles for Targeted Cancer Drug Delivery and Evaluation with Darkfield Hyperspectral Imaging

We propose a novel multifunctional nanocarrier system for targeted drug delivery for lung cancer theranostics. Oxygenated particles (OPs) synthesized with an oxygen-encapsulating carboxymethyl cellulose shell were used as a platform to deliver oxygen to the hypoxic tumor microenvironment. The OPs synthesized could also be conjugated with ligands (e.g., antibodies) to target cancer cells expressing the corresponding antigens to deliver a drug, doxorubicin. In vitro testing of functionalized OPs showed increased efficacy of doxorubicin against the proliferation of lung cancer cells. Both confocal fluorescence imaging and darkfield microscopy hyperspectral imaging validated the OP complex and its efficient targeting of specific cells to deliver the therapeutic. The nanocarrier platform developed can also serve as a diagnostic imaging reagent as demonstrated by darkfield microscopy. Results show that the theranostic OPs developed with multifunctional modalities enabled targeted drug delivery with improved efficacy and tracking of drug delivery vehicles by imaging.

Automated summary

In this study, a novel multifunctional nanocarrier system was proposed for targeted drug delivery in lung cancer theranostics. This nanocarrier system utilizes oxygenated particles to deliver oxygen to the hypoxic tumor microenvironment, and can also be conjugated with ligands for targeted delivery of the drug doxorubicin. In vitro testing demonstrated that the functionalized nanocarrier system showed increased efficacy against lung cancer cell proliferation, and imaging techniques validated its efficient targeting and tracking capabilities.