Ultrasound-Responsive Nanodelivery System of GPC3-Targeting and Sonosensitizer for Visualized Hepatocellular Carcinoma Therapy

Purpose The incidence of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is continuously increasing, and the mortality rate remains high. Thus, more effective strategies are needed to improve the treatment of HCC.Methods In this study, we report the use of a visualized glypican-3 (GPC3)-targeting nanodelivery system (named GC-NBs) in combination with sonodynamic therapy (SDT) to enhance the therapeutic efficacy for treating HCC. The obtained nanodelivery system could actively target hepatocellular carcinoma cells and achieve ultrasound imaging through phase changes into nanobubbles under low-intensity ultrasound irradiation. Meanwhile, the released chlorine e6 (Ce6) after the nanobubbles collapse could lead to the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) under ultrasound irradiation to induce SDT.Results Both in vitro and in vivo experiments have shown that GC-NBs can accumulate in tumour areas and achieve sonodynamic antitumour therapy under the navigation action of glypican-3-antibody (GPC3-Ab). Furthermore, in vitro and in vivo experiments did not show significant biological toxicity of the nanodelivery system. Moreover, GC-NBs can be imaged with ultrasound, providing personalized treatment monitoring.Conclusion GC-NBs enable a visualized antitumour strategy from a targeted sonodynamic perspective by combining tumour-specific targeting and stimuli-responsive controlled release into a single system.