Synergistic combination of chemo-phototherapy based on temozolomide/ICG-loaded iron oxide nanoparticles for brain cancer treatment

Chemo-photothermal therapy for cancer treatment has received increasing attention due to its selective therapeutic effects. In the present study, the anticancer effects of drug-loaded Fe(3)O(4) magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) by chemo-photothermal therapy on U-87 MG human glioblastoma cells was investigated. Anticancer drug-loaded Fe(3)O(4) MNPs were prepared by loading temozolomide (TMZ) and indocyanine green (ICG), and were characterized by X-ray diffraction, UV-vis spectroscopy, thermal gravimetric analysis, transmission electron microscope, as well as drug-loading capacity. Following treatment with near-infrared (NIR) light irradiation, the administration of Fe(3)O(4)-TMZ-ICG MNPs resulted in the apoptosis of U-87 MG glioblastoma cells through the generation of reactive oxygen species. Western blot analysis and reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction revealed that Fe(3)O(4)-TMZ-ICG MNPs with NIR laser irradiation lead to significantly enhanced anticancer effects on U-87 MG glioblastoma cells through the modulation of intrinsic and extrinsic apoptosis genes, including Bcl-2-associated X protein, Bcl-2, cytochrome c, caspase-3, Fas associated via death domain and caspase-8. These results suggest that Fe(3)O(4)-TMZ-ICG MNPs may be potential candidates when administered as chemo-phototherapy for the treatment of brain cancer.