Uncloaking cell-impermeant gold nanorods via tumor microenvironmental cathepsin B facilitates cancer cell penetration and potent radiosensitization.

ABSTRACT: Major impediments to conveyance of intravenously administered drugs to tumors are biofouling, opsonization, and rapid clearance from the circulation by macrophages and reticuloendothelial phagocytes. Cloaking nanoparticles with stealth epilayers partly overcomes these hurdles but it also foils interactions with tumor cells. Here, we describe the synthesis, characterization, and validation of smart gold nanorods (GNRs) that spontaneously transform from inert passengers in the blood stream to active cell-penetrating nanoparticles within tumors to potently sensitize tumors to radiation therapy. Intrinsically cationic and cell-penetrating GNRs were shielded from phagocytosis with a cloaking polyethylene glycol epilayer containing an intervening cleavable peptide. In the absence of an external

SUBMITTER: Raghuram S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10032210 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature