Integrin αvβ3-targeted engineered carbon dots for efficacious sonodynamic therapy and fluorescence navigation surgery against gliomas

Abstract

Residual tumor margin is one of the major causes of cancer recurrence after surgical resection. Image-guided surgery is conducive to eradication of tumor lesions contributing to the avoidance of local recurrence, potential metastasis, and a poor survival rate, which is of significance to malignant tumor, especially invasive gliomas with high incidence and short survival time. Additionally, sonodynamic therapy (SDT) is a favorable method of tumor treatment with deep tissue penetration, non-invasiveness and reliable efficacy. Herein, engineered carbon dots of RB-CDs@RGD were fabricated for both SDT and fluorescence navigation surgery against gliomas. This engineered RB-CDs@RGD with α_vβ₃ integrin-targeting ability could generate sufficient reactive oxygen species (ROS) to induce glioma cell (rat glioma C6 cell) apoptosis. In vivo studies confirmed superior anti-tumor performance of RB-CDs@RGD with expected biocompatibility. Furthermore, RB-CDs@RGD as the tumor-targeted contrast agent was applied for fluorescence-guided surgery of gliomas given its outstanding fluorescence properties. Therefore, RB-CDs@RGD with distinctive fluorescence properties, SDT efficiency, and biosafety exhibited potential for application in distinguished fluorescence imaging-navigated surgery combined with SDT, and they could be used as a drug delivery nanoplatform for imaging-guided operative treatment with a promising prospect in clinic usage.