Microwave triggered multifunctional nanoplatform for targeted photothermal-chemotherapy in castration-resistant prostate cancer

Lacking a precise targeting strategy, castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC) is still hard to be treat effectively. Exploring treatment options that can accurately target CPRC is an important issue with urgent need. In this study, a novel nanotechnology-based strategy had been developed for the precise target treatment of CRPC. By combining microwaves and photothermal therapy (PTT), this nanoplatform, cmHSP70-PL-AuNC-DOX, targets tumor tissues with outstanding precision and achieves better anti-tumor activity by simultaneously eliciting photothermal and chemotherapeutic effects. From nanotechnology, cmHSP70-modified and thermo-sensitive liposome-coated AuNC-DOX were prepared and used for CRPC-targeted photothermal ablation and chemotherapy. Doxorubicin (DOX) was selected as the chemotherapeutic agent for cytotoxicity. In terms of the curative scheme, prostate tissues were firstly pre-treated with microwaves to induce the expression of heat shock protein 70 (HSP70) and its migration to the cell membrane, which was then targeted by HSP70 antibody (cmHSP70) coated on the nanoparticles to achieve accurate drug delivery. The nanoplatform then achieved precise ablation and controlled release of DOX under external near-infrared (NIR) irradiation. Through the implementation, the targeting, cell killing, and safety of this therapeutical strategy had been verified in vivo and in vitro. This work establishes an accurate, controllable, efficient, non-invasive, and safe treatment platform for targeting CRPC, provides a rational design for CRPC’s PTT, and offers new prospects for nanomedicines with great precision.