Photothermal Ablation of Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma by Nanoparticle Loaded Macrophages

Abstract

Objectives: Investigate the effect of photothermal treatment with gold nanoshells (NS) using macrophage-mediated delivery system in head and neck squamous cancer (HNSC) cell line. Methods: The human HNSC cell line (FaDU) and Rat Ma (NR8383) was used for both monolayers and spheroids experiments. Ma were loaded with gold nanoshells. In spheroid models, the cytotoxicity of FaDU cell spheroid with NS loaded Ma was compared to FaDU cell spheroid with empty Ma (without NS). Monolayers and spheroids were exposed to increasing levels of 810nm laser light. The effect of laser ablation treatment was evaluated using MTS assay and spheroid growth kinetics. Live/dead assay was examined by two photon microscopy. Results: The cell viability (MTS assay) of PTT-treated FaDU/NS loaded MS monolayers decreased in a laser dose-dependent and NS loaded MS cell count. In live/dead assay, PTT-treated hybrid FaDU spheroid with NS loaded Ma show significant cell death after exposure to NIR laser light. In kinetics of spheroid growth, PTT-treated hybrid FaDU spheroids containing NS loaded Ma displayed significant decrease in their growth pattern compared to that observed for spheroids containing empty Ma (without NS). Conclusions: NIR laser irradiation of HNSC monolayers or spheroids incorporating NS loaded Ma resulted in significant growth inhibition in a irradiance dependent manner. With further development, photothermal treatment with gold nanoparticle loaded macrophages have the potential to improve the quality of life of head and neck cancer patients, providing minimally invasive modality for cancer treatment.