Prostate tumor therapy advances in nuclear medicine: green nanotechnology toward the design of tumor specific radioactive gold nanoparticles

Abstract

We report herein an innovative approach to prostate tumor therapy using tumor specific radioactive gold nanoparticles (198Au) functionalized with Mangiferin (MGF). Production and full characterization of MGF-198AuNPs are described. In vivo therapeutic efficacy of MGF-198AuNPs, through intratumoral delivery, in SCID mice bearing prostate tumor xenografts are described. Singular doses of the nano-radiopharmaceutical (MGF-198AuNPs) resulted in over 85% reduction of tumor volume as compared to untreated control groups. The excellent anti-tumor efficacy of MGF-198AuNPs are attributed to the retention of over 90% of the injected dose within tumors for long periods of time. The retention of MGF-198AuNPs is also rationalized in terms of the higher tumor metabolism of glucose which is present in the xanthanoid functionality of MGF. Limited/no lymphatic drainage of MGF-198AuNPs to various non-target organs is an attractive feature presenting realistic scope for the clinical translation of MGF-198AuNPs in for treating prostate cancers in human patients. The comparative analysis of MGF-198AuNPs with other radioactive gold nanoparticles, functionalized either with epigallocatechin gallate or the Gum Arabic, has revealed significantly superior tumoricidal characteristics of MGF-198AuNPs, thus corroborating the importance of the tumor-avid glucose motif of MGF. Oncological implications of MGF-198AuNPs as a new therapeutic agent for treating prostate and various solid tumors are presented.