Targeted Cancer Treatment Using Anti-EGFR and -TFR Antibody-Conjugated Gold Nanoparticles Stimulated by Nonthermal Air Plasma

Abstract

Nonthermal air plasma killed G361 melanoma and SCC25 oral cancer cells targeted by antibody-conjugated gold nanoparticles. Although plasma alone is effective in killing cancerous cells, it also affects normal cells during the treatment process. For enhanced effects, gold nanoparticles and cancer-specific antibodies were pretreated before plasma treatment. Gold nanoparticles taken up by the cancerous cells are stimulated by the plasma treatment. Stimulation of gold nanoparticles results in an increase in death rate of cancerous cells. The selectivity of the killing process is achieved by conjugating gold nanoparticles with antiepidermal growth factor receptor and transferrin receptor antibodies. These conjugates can bind specifically to cancer cells. Gold nanoparticles stimulated by plasma kill these cancerous cells effectively. In this way, the killing efficiency of the plasma treatment process in the presence of conjugates is amplified about 18 times compared to the plasma treatment in the absence of conjugates. This technique shows the possibility of using plasma therapy for killing cancer cells selectively and effectively.