Multifunctional microcapsules: A theranostic agent for US/MR/PAT multi-modality imaging and synergistic chemo-photothermal osteosarcoma therapy.

Abstract

Development of versatile theranostic agents that simultaneously integrate therapeutic and diagnostic features remains a clinical urgent. Herein, we aimed to prepare uniform PEGylated (lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) microcapsules (PB@(Fe₃O₄@PEG-PLGA) MCs) with superparamagnetic Fe₃O₄ nanoparticles embedded in the shell and Prussian blue (PB) NPs inbuilt in the cavity via a premix membrane emulsification (PME) method. On account of the eligible geometry and multiple load capacity, these MCs could be used as efficient multi-modality contrast agents to simultaneously enhance the contrasts of US, MR and PAT imaging. In-built PB NPs furnished the MCs with excellent photothermal conversion property and embedded Fe₃O₄ NPs endowed the magnetic location for fabrication of targeted drug delivery system. Notably, after further in-situ encapsulation of antitumor drug of DOX, (PB+DOX)@(Fe₃O₄@PEG-PLGA) MCs possessed more unique advantages on achieving near infrared (NIR)-responsive drug delivery and magnetic-guided chemo-photothermal synergistic osteosarcoma therapy. <i>In vitro</i> and <i>in vivo</i> studies revealed these biocompatible (PB+DOX)@(Fe₃O₄@PEG-PLGA) MCs could effectively target to the tumor tissue with superior therapeutic effect against the invasion of osteosarcoma and alleviation of osteolytic lesions, which will be developed as a smart platform integrating multi-modality imaging capabilities and synergistic effect with high therapy efficacy.