biostudies-literatureSivasoorian SSMinistry of Science and TechnologyKaohsiung Medical UniversityNIDDK NIH HHS1939https://www.ebi.ac.uk/biostudies/studies/S-EPMC9504705biostudies-literatureUnknown14(9)The therapeutic modalities for glioblastoma multiforme fail badly due to the limitations of poor penetration through the blood-brain barrier and the lack of tumor targeting. In this study, we synthesized a neuropeptide (ANGIOPEP-2)-functionalized gold nanorod (GNR-ANGI-2) and systemically evaluated the cellular uptake and photothermal effects enhanced by the neuropeptide functionalization of the gold nanorod under laser or sham exposure. The expression of LRP1, the specific ligand for ANGIOPEP-2, was the highest in C6 cells among five studied glioma cell lines. The cellular internalization studies showed higher uptake of gold nanorods functionalized with ANGIOPEP-2 than of those functionalized with scrambled ANGIOPEP-2. The in vitro photothermal studies of C6 cells treated with GNR-ANGI-2 PharmaceuticsNeuropeptide-Functionalized Gold Nanorod Enhanced Cellular Uptake and Improved In Vitro Photothermal Killing in LRP1-Positive Glioma Cells.PMC9504705DK109001MOST109-2320-B-037-017-MY3NK111P26MOST108-2221-B-037-002-MY3R01 DK109001Sivasoorian SSWang LFUrade RChiu CCfalseNeuropeptide-Functionalized Gold Nanorod Enhanced Cellular Uptake and Improved In Vitro Photothermal Killing in LRP1-Positive Glioma Cells.The therapeutic modalities for glioblastoma multiforme fail badly due to the limitations of poor penetration through the blood-brain barrier and the lack of tumor targeting. In this study, we synthesized a neuropeptide (ANGIOPEP-2)-functionalized gold nanorod (GNR-ANGI-2) and systemically evaluated the cellular uptake and photothermal effects enhanced by the neuropeptide functionalization of the gold nanorod under laser or sham exposure. The expression of LRP1, the specific ligand for ANGIOPEP-2, was the highest in C6 cells among five studied glioma cell lines. The cellular internalization studies showed higher uptake of gold nanorods functionalized with ANGIOPEP-2 than of those functionalized with scrambled ANGIOPEP-2. The in vitro photothermal studies of C6 cells treated with GNR-ANGI-2 2022-01-01T00:00:00Z2022 Sep2025-04-19T07:29:48.582Z2025-04-19T07:29:48.582ZS-EPMC95047053614568710.3390/pharmaceutics14091939