In Vivo Computed Tomography/Photoacoustic Imaging and NIR-Triggered Chemo–Photothermal Combined Therapy Based on a Gold Nanostar-, Mesoporous Silica-, and Thermosensitive Liposome-Composited Nanoprobe

Safe multifunctional nanoplatforms that have multiple therapeutic functions integrated with imaging capabilities are highly desired for biomedical applications. In this paper, targeted chemo-photothermal synergistic therapy and photoacoustic/computed tomography imaging of tumors were achieved by one novel multifunctional nanoprobe (GMS/DOX@SLB-FA); it was composed of a gold nanostar core and a doxorubicin (DOX)-loaded mesoporous silica shell (GMS), which was coated with a folic acid (FA)-modified thermosensitively supported lipid bilayer (SLB-FA) as a gatekeeper. The multifunctional probe had perfect dispersion and stability; 2.1 nm mesoporous pores and 208 nm hydration particle sizes were obtained. In vitro studies indicated that the drug-loaded probe had excellent ability to control the release of DOX, with 71.98 ± 2.52% cumulative release after laser irradiation, which was significantly higher than that of unirradiated control group. A survival rate of 72.75 ± 4.37% of HeLa cells at 57.75 μg/mL probe also demonstrated the low cytotoxicity of the targeted probe. Both in vitro and in vivo results showed that the probe could achieve targeted photoacoustic imaging of tumors because of the fact that the FA-modified probe could specifically recognize the overexpressed FA receptors on tumor cells; meanwhile, the probe could also achieve the chemo-photothermal synergistic therapy of tumors through controlling the drug release from mesoporous channels by a near-infrared laser. Therefore, the probe had great potential in the early diagnosis and treatment of cancer.