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. 2020 Dec 1;6(4):373-378.
doi: 10.18383/j.tom.2020.00026.

Enhancement of Radiotherapy with Human Mesenchymal Stem Cells Containing Gold Nanoparticles

Mrudula Pullambhatla  1 , Steven P Rowe  1 , Ala Lisok  1 , Yuchuan Wang  1 , Gabriele Putz Todd  2 , Alla Danilkovitch  2 , Martin G Pomper  1
Affiliations

Enhancement of Radiotherapy with Human Mesenchymal Stem Cells Containing Gold Nanoparticles

Mrudula Pullambhatla et al. Tomography. .

Abstract

Radiotherapy is a common approach for the treatment of a wide variety of cancer types. Available data indicate that nanoparticles can enhance the effect of radiotherapy. We report the use of human mesenchymal stem cells to selectively deliver gold nanoparticles (GNPs) to MDA-MB-231 breast tumor xenografts in mice for the purpose of enhancing the effect of radiation therapy. Targeted delivery of GNPs to the tumor site, followed by irradiation of the tumor, enabled control of tumor growth. The results indicate that tumor-selective GNP delivery by human mesenchymal stem cells may represent a viable way to enhance the effectiveness of radiotherapy.

Keywords: MSCs; breast cancer; molecular imaging; nanomedicine; targeted delivery; tumor microenvironment.

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Figures

Figure 1.
Figure 1.
Concept of gold delivery for enhancement of radiotherapy.
Figure 2.
Figure 2.
Cell migration assay. Unmodified control human mesenchymal stem cell (hMSCs) (left image) and gold nanoparticle-loaded hMSCs (right image) were transferred to Transwell inserts (8-µm pores), and the inserts were placed into a 24-well plate with chemoattractant stimuli. Cells that had migrated toward the chemoattractant stimuli were stained with 0.2% gentian violet solution and analyzed with light microscopy. Gold hMSCs show migratory potential comparable to unmodified, control hMSCs.
Figure 3.
Figure 3.
Computed tomography (CT) images of mice bearing MDA-MB-231 tumors 72 hours after each intravenous injection of gold hMSCs. The blue circle denotes tumor. Red dots within the blue circle show accumulation of high-density particles at the tumor site. Accumulation of gold hMSCs in the liver and spleen can be seen inferior to the diaphragm (white arrows).
Figure 4.
Figure 4.
Enhanced radiotherapy of nonobese diabetic-severe combined immunodeficiency (NOD/SCID) mice harboring subcutaneous MDA-MB-231 tumor. Mice in group 1 received vehicle only, those in group 2 received vehicle plus irradiation (IR), and those in group 3 received gold hMSCs on 3 separate occasions before IR. In total, 4 animals were studied per group.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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