In vitro and in vivo synergistic effect of radiotherapy and plasmonic photothermal therapy on the viability of cancer cells using 177Lu–Au-NLS-RGD-Aptamer nanoparticles under laser irradiation

Abstract

This research aimed to evaluate the photothermal and radiotherapeutic effect of the 177Lu–Au-RGD-NLS-Aptamer anti-angiogenic nanosystem on the viability of U87MG cancer cells by using in vitro and in vivo models, as well as to assess the synergic effect of both therapies. In vitro results demonstrated a decrease in cell viability to 2.14 ± 0.27% after the treatment with photothermal therapy plus radiotherapy. These results correlated with the observed in vivo therapeutic response in mice with U87MG-induced tumors, in which 177Lu–Au-RGD-NLS-Aptamer under laser irradiation inhibited tumor progression. The combination of radiotherapy and thermotherapy in one nanoradiopharmaceutical could be potentially useful for cancer treatment.