Photothermal Responsive Microcarriers Encapsulated With Cangrelor and 5-Fu for Colorectal Cancer Treatment

Small Methods. 2024 Jul;8(7):e2301002. doi: 10.1002/smtd.202301002. Epub 2023 Dec 21.

Abstract

Localized chemotherapy is emerging as a potential strategy for cancer treatment due to its low systemic toxicity. However, the immune evasion of tumor cells and the lack of an intelligent design of the delivery system limit its clinical application. Herein, photothermal responsive microcarriers are designed by microfluidic electrospray for colorectal tumor treatment. The microcarriers loaded with Cangrelor, 5-FU and MXene (G-M@F/C+NIR) show sustained delivery of antiplatelet drug Cangrelor, thus inhibiting the activity of platelets, interactions of platelet-tumor cell, as well as the tumor cells invasion and epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT). In addition, the sustained delivery of chemotherapeutics 5-FU and the photothermal effect provided by MXene enable the microcarriers to inhibit tumor cells proliferation and migration. In vivo studies validate that the G-M@F/C+NIR microcarriers significantly inhibites tumor growth, decreased the expression of Ki-67 in tumor cells and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in the tumor microenvironment, while increased the expression of E-cadherin. It is believe that by means of the proposed photothermal responsive microcarriers, the synergistic strategy of platelet inhibition, chemotherapy, and photothermal therapy can find practical applications in cancer treatment.

Keywords: cancer treatment; hydrogel; microcarrier; microfluidics; particle.

MeSH terms

  • Adenosine Monophosphate* / analogs & derivatives
  • Adenosine Monophosphate* / chemistry
  • Adenosine Monophosphate* / pharmacology
  • Animals
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Cell Proliferation / drug effects
  • Colorectal Neoplasms* / drug therapy
  • Colorectal Neoplasms* / therapy
  • Drug Carriers / chemistry
  • Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition / drug effects
  • Fluorouracil* / chemistry
  • Fluorouracil* / pharmacology
  • Humans
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred BALB C
  • Mice, Nude
  • Photothermal Therapy
  • Tumor Microenvironment / drug effects
  • Xenograft Model Antitumor Assays

Substances

  • Fluorouracil
  • Adenosine Monophosphate
  • cangrelor
  • Drug Carriers