Synthesis, characterization, and in vitro evaluation of targeted gold nanoshelled poly(d,l-lactide-co-glycolide) nanoparticles carrying anti p53 antibody as a theranostic agent for ultrasound contrast imaging and photothermal therapy.

Breast cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related deaths in women and earlier detection can substantially reduce deaths from breast cancer. Polymers with targeted ligands are widely used in the field of molecular ultrasound imaging and targeted tumor therapy. In our study, the nanotheranostic agent was fabricated through filling perfluoropropane (C3F8) into poly(d,l-lactic-co-glycolic acid) nanoparticles (PLGA NPs), followed by the formation of gold nanoshell on the surface, then conjugated with anti p53 antibody which has high specificity with the p53 protein overexpressing in breast cancer. The average diameter of the gold nanoshelled PLGA NPs carrying anti p53 antibody (p53-PLGA@Au NPs) was 247 ± 108.2 nm. The p53-PLGA@Au NPs had well-defined spherical morphology and hollow interiors observed by electron microscope, and had a good photothermal effect under the irradiation of an 808 nm laser. The results of laser scanning confocal microscope (LSCM) and flow cytometer (FCM) indicated the specific targeting of p53-PLGA@Au NPs conjugating with breast cancer MCF-7 cells overexpressing p53 protein in vitro. Also the ultrasound imaging experiments in vitro showed that p53-PLGA@Au NPs were suitable for ultrasound contrast imaging. In conclusion, the p53-PLGA@Au NPs are demonstrated to be novel targeted UCAs and may have potential applications in the early diagnosis and targeted near-infrared (NIR) photothermal therapy of breast cancer in the future.