Bo Jin,1 Kexin Lu,2 Wenna Gao,1 Yixian Liu,3 Mengfei Wang,2 Xiaojun Zhang,3 Huiping Chen,3 Liyun Zheng,3 Min Zou3 

1Department of Ophthalmology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Hennan, 450052, People’s Republic of China; 2BGI College, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450052, People’s Republic of China; 3Henan Institute of Medical and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450052, People’s Republic of China

Correspondence: Min Zou; Liyun Zheng, Email Minzou1980@126.com; zhengliyun@zzu.edu.cn

Background: At present, the few photothermal/chemotherapy studies about retinoblastoma that have been reported are mainly restricted to ectopic models involving subcutaneous implantation. However, eyeball is unique physiological structure, the blood-retina barrier (BRB) hinders the absorption of drug molecules through the systemic route. Moreover, the abundant blood circulation in the fundus accelerates drug metabolism. To uphold the required drug concentration, patients must undergo frequent chemotherapy sessions.
Purpose: To address these challenges above, we need to develop a secure and effective drug delivery system (FA-PEG-PDA-DOX) for the fundus.
Methods: We offered superior therapeutic efficacy with minimal or no side effects and successfully established orthotopic mouse models. We evaluated cellular uptake performance and targeting efficiency of FA-PEG-PDA-DOX nanosystem and assessed its synergistic antitumor effects in vitro and vivo. Biodistribution assessments were performed to determine the retention time and targeting efficiency of the NPs in vivo. Additionally, safety assessments were conducted.
Results: Cell endocytosis rates of the FA-PEG-PDA-DOX+Laser group became 5.23 times that of the DOX group and 2.28 times that of FA-PEG-PDA-DOX group without irradiation. The fluorescence signal of FA-PEG-PDA-DOX persisted for more than 120 hours at the tumor site. The number of tumor cells (17.2%) in the proliferative cycle decreased by 61.6% in the photothermal-chemotherapy group, in contrast to that of the saline control group (78.8%). FA-PEG-PDA-DOX nanoparticles(NPs) exhibited favorable biosafety and high biocompatibility.
Conclusion: The dual functional targeted nanosystem, with the effects of DOX and mild-temperature elevation by irradiation, resulted in precise chemo/photothermal therapy in nude mice model.

Keywords: retinoblastoma, orthotopic model, nanoparticle, synergistic therapy