Delivery of siRNA Using Functionalized Gold Nanorods Enhances Anti-Osteosarcoma Efficacy

Gold nanorods (GNRs) are intensively explored for the application in cancer therapy, which has motivated the development of photothermal therapy (PTT) multifunctional nanoplatforms based on GNRs to cure osteosarcoma (OS). However, the major limitations include the toxicity of surface protectants of GNRs, unsatisfactory targeting therapy, and the resistant effects of photothermal-induced autophagy, so the risk of relapse and metastasis of OS increase. In the present study, the GNR multifunctional nanoplatforms were designed and synthesized to deliver transcription factor EB (TFEB)-siRNA–targeting autophagy; then, the resistance of autophagy to PTT and the pH-sensitive cell-penetrating membrane peptide (CPP) was weakened, which could improve the tumor-targeting ability of the GNR nanoplatforms and realize an efficient synergistic effect for tumor treatment. Meanwhile, it is worth noting that the GNR nanoplatform groups have anti-lung metastasis of OS. This study provides a new reference to improve the efficacy of OS clinically.