Targeting and noninvasive treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma in situ by ZnO nanorod-mediated concurrent chemoradiotherapy

Abstract

Nanomaterials have emerged as radiosensitizers to improve therapeutic efficiency. The aim of the current study was to investigate concurrent chemoradiotherapy mediated by ZnO nanorods for noninvasive treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in situ. Transferrin receptor antibody (TfR Ab) functionalized ZnO nanorods, loaded with doxorubicin (Dox), denoted as TfR Ab/Dox/ZnO nanocomposites, were prepared to act as a targeted multifunctional drug delivery system (DDS). The synergistic anticancer effects on HCC were evaluated in vitro and in a murine orthotopic model using a cell viability assay, apoptosis detection, histopathologic examination, and serum biochemistry tests. Our observations demonstrated that the TfR Ab/Dox/ZnO nanocomposites could play the targeted role of the drug carrier to deliver Dox into the HCC SMMC-7721 cells to enhance its chemotherapeutic efficiency. Besides, with the addition of short term and low dose X-ray irradiation, the ZnO nanorods showed excellent radiosensitizer properties, further attacking the cancer cells. Thus, apoptosis was synergistically induced by the concurrent chemoradiotherapy, resulting in a distinct improvement in anticancer activity. Therefore, ZnO nanorods could mediate concurrent chemoradiotherapy for the noninvasive treatment of HCC.