Synergistically enhanced photocatalytic and chemotherapeutic effects of aptamer-functionalized ZnO nanoparticles towards cancer cells

Zhou Han, Xinhuan Wang, Chenglin Heng*, Qiusen Han, Shuanfei Cai, Jingying Li, Cui Qi, Wei Liang, Rong Yang, Chen Wang

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

41 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Today cancer is one of the most life-threatening diseases in the world. The conventional cancer therapies, including surgery, chemo- and radiation therapies, have some disadvantages, such as limited efficiency and significant side effects. It is necessary to develop new therapeutic treatments. Herein, we integrated the targeted photocatalytic and chemotherapy in a multifunctional drug-delivery platform. The aptamer-functionalized ZnO nanoparticles (NPs) were successfully synthesized. The anti-cancer drug was loaded in the aptamer-ZnO NP system. In vitro cell cytotoxicity experiments showed that combined therapy had a higher rate of death of cancer cells compared to that of single photocatalytic or chemotherapy. Furthermore, aptamer-functionalization could greatly increase the accumulation of nanoparticles within cancer cells and lead to better therapeutic effects. The results suggest that aptamer-functionalized semiconductor nanoparticles may have potential in the development of targeted photocatalytic and chemotherapy against cancer.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)21576-21582
Number of pages7
JournalPhysical Chemistry Chemical Physics
Volume17
Issue number33
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 20 Jul 2015

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