MULTIFUNCTIONAL CHEMO- AND MECHANICAL THERAPEUTICS
Methods of treating diseases through the intracellular enhancement and synergy of chemo- and radiation-therapies by employing cancer cell-specific on-demand mechanical intracellular impact. The methods, quadrapeutics, combines four clinically validated modalities: encapsulated drugs, colloidal gold nanoparticles (GNPs), near-infrared short laser pulses, and X-rays.
1 . A method comprising:
introducing into a cell at least one gold nanoparticle and separately at least one therapeutic agent; and
applying to the cell an optical pulse sufficient to produce a nanobubble.
2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the therapeutic agent is encapsulated in a carrier.
3 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the gold nanoparticle and the therapeutic agent are functionalized with a targeting agent.
4 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the gold nanoparticle and the therapeutic agent are functionalized with a targeting agent chosen from one or more of an antibody, an aptamer, and a peptide.
5 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the at least one gold nanoparticle and the at least one therapeutic agent form a cluster in the cell.
6 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the cell is a cancer cell.
7 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the therapeutic agent is a cytostatic or cytotoxic drug, a genetically-active material or a signal-activating material.
8 . The method of claim 7 , wherein the cytostatic or cytotoxic drug is cisplatin, doxorubicin, paclitaxel, or 5-furourocil.
9 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising applying a dose of radiation to the cell.
10 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising detecting acoustic responses.
11 . A composition comprising at least one gold nanoparticle separate from and disposed adjacent to at least one therapeutic agent.
12 . The composition of claim 11 , further comprising a nanobubble disposed around the at least one gold nanoparticle.
13 . A system comprising:
a composition comprising at least one gold nanoparticle separate from and disposed adjacent to at least one therapeutic agent; and
a laser disposed operable to the composition, the laser is capable of generating an optical pulse sufficient to create a nanobubble around the composition.
14 . The system of claim 13 , wherein the therapeutic agent is encapsulated in a carrier.
15 . The system of claim 13 , wherein the gold nanoparticle and the therapeutic agent are functionalized with a targeting agent.
16 . The system of claim 13 , wherein the gold nanoparticle and the therapeutic agent are functionalized with a targeting agent chosen from one or more of an antibody, an aptamer, and a peptide.
17 . The method of claim 13 , wherein the at least one gold nanoparticle and the at least one therapeutic agent form a cluster.
18 . The system of claim 13 , further comprising a detector.
19 . The system of claim 13 , further comprising a radiation source.