The effects of multifunctional MiR-122-loaded graphene-gold composites on drug-resistant liver cancer.

Yi Yuan,Yaqin Zhang,Yanjun Kang,Gen Zhang,Ming Li,Nongyue He,Xin Zeng,Heming Wu,Bin Liu

doi:10.1186/s12951-015-0070-z

Abstract

BackgroundNano drugs have attracted increased attention due to their unique mode of action that offers tumor-inhibiting effects. Therefore, we have previously explored functionalized and drug-loaded graphene-gold nanocomposites that induced cancer cell apoptosis.ResultsIn the present study, we developed a combination of monoclonal P-glycoprotein (P-gp) antibodies, folic acid (FA) and miR-122-loaded gold nanoparticles on graphene nanocomposites (GGMPN), which promoted drug-resistant HepG2 cell apoptosis with drug targeting and controlled release properties. We also investigated related apoptosis proteins and apoptosis signal pathways by GGMPN treatment in vitro and in vivo. Moreover, we further demonstrated the inhibition of tumor growth and the apoptosis-inducing effect by means of GGMPN with a semiconductor laser in a xenograft tumor model.ConclusionIn conclusion, our results collectively suggested that GGMPN could serve as a novel therapeutic approach to control tumor cell apoptosis and growth.

Highlights

Nano drugs have attracted increased attention due to their unique mode of action that offers tumor-inhibiting effects
Synthesis and identification of Monoclonal P-glycoprotein antibodies (GGMPN) Gold nanoparticles loaded with miR-122, termed GGMPN, were synthesized and identified using transmission electron microscope (TEM) imaging
We demonstrated that gold nanoparticles completely prevented miR-122 from moving to the positive electrode; the gold nanoparticles/miR-122 remained in the sample well (Figure 1C, lane 2)

Summary

Introduction

Nano drugs have attracted increased attention due to their unique mode of action that offers tumor-inhibiting effects. We have previously explored functionalized and drug-loaded graphene-gold nanocomposites that induced cancer cell apoptosis. Making excellent nano-material drugs with high drug loading, high targeting ability, controlled release capabilities, low toxicity, and tumor imaging functionality appears to be highly necessary [1,2]. One important component of miR-122-loaded gold nanoparticles on graphene nanocomposites (GGMPN) in this study was miRs, which were discovered in recent years as a class of 18–24 nucleotide non-coding small molecule RNA [3]. The advantage of the gold gene vector is that with the effect of GSH, it can achieve controlled release of the nucleic acid, which is preferably more controllable than viral vectors and liposomes

Methods

Results

Discussion

Conclusion