Title:Antibody-modified Gold Nanobiostructures: Advancing Targeted
Photodynamic Therapy for Improved Cancer Treatment
Volume: 29
Issue: 39
Author(s): Negin Alavi, Parvaneh Maghami, Azar Fani Pakdel, Majid Rezaei and Amir Avan*
Affiliation:
- Metabolic Syndrome Research Center, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
- College of
Medicine, University of Warith Al-Anbiyaa, Karbala, Iraq
- Faculty of Health, School of Biomedical Sciences, Queensland University
of Technology (QUT), Brisbane 4059, Australia
Keywords:
Phototoxicity, photodynamic therapy, cancer, gold, nanoplatforms, nanobiostructures.
Abstract: Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is an innovative, non-invasive method of treating cancer that uses
light-activated photosensitizers to create reactive oxygen species (ROS). However, challenges associated with
the limited penetration depth of light and the need for precise control over photosensitizer activation have hindered
its clinical translation. Nanomedicine, particularly gold nanobiostructures, offers promising solutions to
overcome these limitations. This paper reviews the advancements in PDT and nanomedicine, focusing on applying
antibody-modified gold nanobiostructures as multifunctional platforms for enhanced PDT efficacy and
improved cancer treatment outcomes. The size, shape, and composition of gold nanobiostructures can significantly
influence their PDT efficacy, making synthetic procedures crucial. Functionalizing the surface of gold
nanobiostructures with various molecules, such as antibodies or targeting agents, bonding agents, PDT agents,
photothermal therapy (PTT) agents, chemo-agents, immunotherapy agents, and imaging agents, allows composition
modification. Integrating gold nanobiostructures with PDT holds immense potential for targeted cancer
therapy. Antibody-modified gold nanobiostructures, in particular, have gained significant attention due to their
tunable plasmonic characteristics, biocompatibility, and surface functionalization capabilities. These multifunctional
nanosystems possess unique properties that enhance the efficacy of PDT, including improved light absorption,
targeted delivery, and enhanced ROS generation. Passive and active targeting of gold nanobiostructures
can enhance their localization near cancer cells, leading to efficient eradication of tumor tissues upon
light irradiation. Future research and clinical studies will continue to explore the potential of gold nanobiostructures
in PDT for personalized and effective cancer therapy. The synthesis, functionalization, and characterization
of gold nanobiostructures, their interaction with light, and their impact on photosensitizers' photophysical
and photochemical properties, are important areas of investigation. Strategies to enhance targeting efficiency
and the evaluation of gold nanobiostructures in vitro and in vivo studies will further advance their application
in PDT. The integrating antibody-modified gold nanobiostructures in PDT represents a promising strategy for
targeted cancer therapy. These multifunctional nanosystems possess unique properties that enhance PDT efficacy,
including improved light absorption, targeted delivery, and enhanced ROS generation. Continued research
and development in this field will contribute to the advancement of personalized and effective cancer treatment
approaches.