Photothermal Cancer Treatment with Laser-Activated Yolk-Shell Nanoparticles and Synergistic Combination of Chemotherapy

채선영, 홍석원, 김재혁, 김근영, 최현석, 권영우

This study presents a potent synergistic approach by combining photothermal therapy (PTT) and chemotherapy (doxorubicin, DOX) to enhance cancer treatment's efficacy substantially. A novel yolk-shell nanocarrier impregnated with gold nanoparticles (YS-GNPs) was engineered to serve as an efficient photothermal agent. Upon near-infrared laser irradiation, YS-GNPs effectively generated localized hyperthermia within cancer cells, triggering significant reductions in viability through apoptosis induction at early treatment stages in HeLa and YD10B cells. This striking effect can be attributed to the overexpression of lysosomes by internalized YS-GNPs and subsequent lysosomal rupture. In contrast to DOX monotherapy that relies on oxidative stress via reactive oxygen species (ROS) elevation, the chemo-PTT combination regimen exhibited remarkably potentiated anticancer efficacy by further suppressing heat shock proteins, thereby synergistically amplifying lysosome-mediated cell death and ROS-induced cytotoxicity. This multifaceted approach strategically harnesses distinct therapeutic mechanisms in a synchronized manner, exploiting the full potential of PTT alongside chemotherapy. The proposed methodology holds immense translational promise for substantially improving clinical outcomes in cancer management while advancing the forefront of nanobiotechnology.