Photothermal Response of Human and Murine Cancer Cells to Multiwalled Carbon Nanotubes after Laser Irradiation

• Published in: Cancer research (Chicago, Ill.) Vol. 70; no. 23; pp. 9855 - 9864
• Main Authors: FISHER, Jessica W, SARKAR, Saugata, BUCHANAN, Cara F, SZOT, Christopher S, WHITNEY, Jon, HATCHER, Heather C, TORTI, Suzy V, RYLANDER, Christopher G, NICHOLE RYLANDER, Marissa
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Philadelphia, PA American Association for Cancer Research 01.12.2010
• Subjects: Animals; Antineoplastic agents; Biological and medical sciences; Carcinoma, Renal Cell - metabolism; Carcinoma, Renal Cell - pathology; Cell Line, Tumor; Cell Nucleus - metabolism; Cell Nucleus - ultrastructure; Cell Survival - radiation effects; Fluorescent Antibody Technique; Heat-Shock Proteins - metabolism; Hot Temperature; HSP27 Heat-Shock Proteins - metabolism; HSP70 Heat-Shock Proteins - metabolism; HSP90 Heat-Shock Proteins - metabolism; Humans; Kidney Neoplasms - metabolism; Kidney Neoplasms - pathology; Lasers; Male; Medical sciences; Mice; Microscopy, Electron, Transmission; Nanotubes, Carbon - analysis; Nanotubes, Carbon - ultrastructure; Pharmacology. Drug treatments; Prostatic Neoplasms - metabolism; Prostatic Neoplasms - pathology; Spectrophotometry; Tumors; Vacuoles - metabolism; Vacuoles - ultrastructure; Human; Vertebrata; Mammalia; Mouse; Animal; Rodentia; Laser; Nanotube; Irradiation; Carbon; Tumor cell
• ISSN: 0008-5472; 1538-7445
• DOI: 10.1158/0008-5472.can-10-0250

This study demonstrates the capability of multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWNTs) coupled with laser irradiation to enhance treatment of cancer cells through enhanced and more controlled thermal deposition, increased tumor injury, and diminished heat shock protein (HSP) expression. We also explored the potential promise of MWNTs as drug delivery agents by observing the degree of intracellular uptake of these nanoparticles. To determine the heat generation capability of MWNTs, the absorption spectra and temperature rise during heating were measured. Higher optical absorption was observed for MWNTs in water compared with water alone. For identical laser parameters, MWNT-containing samples produced a significantly greater temperature elevation compared to samples treated with laser alone. Human prostate cancer (PC3) and murine renal carcinoma (RENCA) cells were irradiated with a 1,064-nm laser with an irradiance of 15.3 W/cm(2) for 2 heating durations (1.5 and 5 minutes) alone or in combination with MWNT inclusion. Cytotoxicity and HSP expression following laser heating was used to determine the efficacy of laser treatment alone or in combination with MWNTs. No toxicity was observed for MWNTs alone. Inclusion of MWNTs dramatically decreased cell viability and HSP expression when combined with laser irradiation. MWNT cell internalization was measured using fluorescence and transmission electron microscopy following incubation of MWNTs with cells. With increasing incubation duration, a greater number of MWNTs were observed in cellular vacuoles and nuclei. These findings offer an initial proof of concept for the application of MWNTs in cancer therapy.