Galactose-functionalized GlycoAuNR as a photothermal conversion complex: Its binding to lectin RCA120 and hepatoma-targeting therapy

Glycopolymer-grafted gold nanorods (GlycoAuNRs) were designed and fabricated as a heptoma-targeting phototherapy nanoparticles. The block glycopolymer, poly (diethyleneglycol methacrylate)-block-poly(6-O-vinyladipoyl-α-D-galactose) (PDEGMA-b-POVNGA), was synthesized by RAFT polymerization and modified AuNRs with Au-S bonds via reducing the thioester at the end of glycopolymer to thiol (–SH). Galactose pendants of thermosensitive AuNRs@PDEGMA-b-POVNGA were exposed when the temperature of aqueous dispersion is above lower critical solution temperature, which was responsible for specific binding ability with ricinus communis agglutinin. In vitro experiment indicated that the synthesized glycopolymer could significantly improve cytocompatibility of AuNRs and target to hepatocellular carcinoma cells, owing to the galactose moiety that recognized the overexpressed asialoglycoprotein receptor on the hepatocellular carcinoma cells. Interestingly, the addition of ricinus communis agglutinin could inhibit the growth of the hepatocellular carcinoma cells in some extent. Furthermore, the photothermal therapy assay proved that glycoAuNRs-ricinus communis agglutinin could realize highly effective photothermal treatment for the tumor cells in vitro upon laser irradiation by cooperative effect.