A Therapeutic System of 177Lu-labeled Gold Nanoparticles-RGD Internalized in Breast Cancer Cells

Abstract

The aim of this research was to evaluate the in vitro potential of 177Lu-labeled gold nanoparticles conjugated to cyclo-[RGDfK(C)] peptides (177Lu-AuNP-c[RGDfK(C)]) as a plasmonic photothermal therapy and targeted radiotherapy system in MCF7 breast cancer cells. Peptides were conjugated to AuNPs (20 nm) by spontaneous reaction with the thiol group of cysteine (C). After laser irradiation, the presence of c[RGDfK(C)]-AuNP in cells caused a significant increase in the temperature of the medium (50.5 °C, compared to 40.3 °C without AuNPs) resulting in a significant decrease in MCF7 cell viability down to 9 %. After treatment with 177-AuNP-c[RGDfK(C)], the MCF7 cell proliferation was significantly inhibited.