Affiliation:
1. Institute for Translational Medicine The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University College of Medicine Qingdao University Qingdao China
2. State Key Laboratory of Chemical Resource Engineering College of Chemistry Beijing University of Chemical Technology Beijing China
Abstract
AbstractCurrent radiotherapy (RT) lacks the ability to accurately discriminate between tumor and healthy tissues, resulting in significant radiation‐induced damage for patients. Therefore, there is an urgent need for precise RT techniques that can optimize tumor control while minimizing adverse effects on surrounding healthy tissues. In this study, we developed a nanodrug (AuNR@Peptide) composed of furin‐responsive RVRR peptide‐conjugated AuNRs, which integrates an activatable probe and a radiosensitizer into a single system for accurate tumor localization, enabling image‐guided precision RT. Upon reaching the tumor site after intravenous administration, proteolytic cleavage of RVRR substrates on AuNR@Peptide by biomarker triggers aggregation of gold nanorods (AuNRs) into larger aggregates, leading to activation of near‐infrared (NIR)‐II photoacoustic (PA) signals to precisely localize the tumor and enhance tumor retention by preventing migration and backflow of AuNRs. This significantly amplifies radiosensitivity efficiency. The peak time point at which the NIR‐II PA signal was observed at the tumor site after injection serves as a reference for initiating RT, demonstrating substantial improvement in tumor RT through investigations related to radiosensitization mechanisms. The integration of imaging and therapy in this study offers a promising image‐guided therapeutic modality for tumors.
Funder
Natural Science Foundation of Shandong Province