Brachytherapy approach using 177Lu conjugated gold nanostars and evaluation of biodistribution, tumor retention, dosimetry and therapeutic efficacy in head and neck tumor model

Min Ying Lin, Hsin Hua Hsieh, Jyh-Cheng Chen, Chuan-Lin Chen, Nin Chu Sheu, Wen Sheng Huang, Shinn-Ying Ho, Ting-Wen Chen, Yi-Jang Lee*, Chun-Yi Wu

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

8 Scopus citations

Abstract

Brachytherapy can provide sufficient doses to head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) with minimal damage to nearby normal tissues. In this study, the β-emitter177 Lu was conjugated to DTPA-polyethylene glycol (PEG) decorated gold nanostars (177 Lu-DTPA-pAuNS) used in surface-enhanced Raman scattering and photothermal therapy (PTT). The accumulation and therapeutic efficacy of177 Lu-DTPA-pAuNS were compared with those of177 Lu-DTPA on an orthotopic HNSCC tumor model. The SPECT/CT imaging and biodistribution studies showed that177 Lu-DTPA-pAuNS can be accumulated in the tumor up to 15 days, but177 Lu-DTPA could not be detected at 24 h after injection. The tumor viability and growth were suppressed by injected177 Lu-DTPA-pAuNS but not nonconjugated177 Lu-DTPA, as evaluated by bioluminescent imaging. The radiation-absorbed dose of the normal organ was the highest in the liver (0.33 mSv/MBq) estimated in a 73 kg adult, but that of tumorsphere (0.5 g) was 3.55 mGy/MBq, while intravenous injection of177 Lu-DTPA-pAuNS resulted in 1.97 mSv/MBq and 0.13 mGy/MBq for liver and tumorsphere, respectively. We also observed further enhancement of tumor-suppressive effects by a combination of177 Lu-DTPA-pAuNS and PTT compared to177 Lu-DTPA-pAuNS alone. In conclusion,177 Lu-DTPA-pAuNS may be considered as a potential radiopharmaceutical agent for HNSCC brachytherapy.

Original languageEnglish
Article number1903
Pages (from-to)1-13
Number of pages13
JournalPharmaceutics
Volume13
Issue number11
DOIs
StatePublished - Nov 2021

Keywords

  • 177Lu-DTPA-pAuNS
  • brachytherapy
  • Head and neck cancer
  • Photothermal therapy

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