Alginate-functionalized and 4T1 cell membrane-coated multi-tasking nanoparticulate system for near-infrared-triggered photodynamic therapy on breast cancer: In vitro cellular and in vivo mice models

Recently, combination treatment of chemo-dynamic therapy (CDT) and photodynamic therapies (PDT) is well-known and prominent therapeutic strategy for breast tumor. Importantly, tailored nanomedicines with unique personalized properties including nanocarrier suitability and effective targeting ability that requires the exhaustive understanding of tumor microenvironment. Recently, researchers have designed a smart upconversion nanoparticles (UCNPs) that have unique characteristics to achieve targeting for respond tumor microenvironment. In the present study, we first time fabricated a novel combination of oxidized sodium alginate-enveloped and 4T1 cancer cell membrane-coated up-conversion nanoparticles (4TUCNP@SMZ) were engineered for breast cancer-targeted therapy. The nanoparticles could be formed via electrostatic interaction, which showed excellent biocompatibility, increased cellular uptake with normal and cancer cells. The fabricated Alginate and 4T1-membrane functionalized up-conversion nanoparticles significantly benefitted to targeted delivery system for local breast cancer and prominently inhibit tumor development via chemo-dynamic therapy (CDT) and PDT. The greater susceptibility of tumor cells to oxidative stress may also result from the depletion of intracellular GSH by the 4TUCNP@SMZ nanoparticles. The in vitro cell models (4T1 and MCF-7), in vivo tumor model and histological observation demonstrated that 4TUCNP@SMZ nanoparticles effectively targeted to breast tumor microenvironment and inhibit breast cancer cells. This report suggested that multifunctional Alginate-functionalized nanoparticles are a versatile agent for phototherapy for breast cancer treatment.