Dual-Functional PLGA Nanoparticles Co-Loaded with Indocyanine Green and Resiquimod for Prostate Cancer Treatment

Wenfeng Lin,1,* Chaoming Li,1,2,* Naijin Xu,1,3 Masami Watanabe,1,4 Ruizhi Xue,1 Abai Xu,2 Motoo Araki,1 Ruifen Sun,5 Chunxiao Liu,2 Yasutomo Nasu,1 Peng Huang1,2,6 1Department of Urology, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama, Japan; 2Department of Urology, Zhujiang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, People’s Republic of China; 3Department of Urology, Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, People’s Republic of China; 4Center for Innovative Clinical Medicine, Okayama University Hospital, Okayama, Japan; 5Center for Scientific Research, Yunnan University of Chinese Traditional Medicine, Kunming, People’s Republic of China; 6Okayama Medical Innovation Center, Okayama University, Okayama, Japan*These authors contributed equally to this workCorrespondence: Peng HuangDepartment of Urology, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama, 700-8558, JapanTel + 81-86-235-7997Fax +81-86-235-7884Email huangpeng509@gmail.comPurpose: With the advance of screening techniques, there is a growing number of low-risk or intermediate-risk prostate cancer (PCa) cases, remaining a serious threat to men’s health. To obtain better efficacy, a growing interest has been attracted to develop such emerging treatments as immunotherapy and focal therapy. However, few studies offer guidance on whether and how to combine these modalities against PCa. This study was designed to develop dual-functional nanoparticles (NPs) which combined photothermal therapy (PTT) with immunotherapy and determine the anti-tumor efficacy for PCa treatment.Methods: By a double emulsion technique, the drug nanocarrier, poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) or PLGA, was applied for co-loading of a fluorescent dye, indocyanine green (ICG) and a toll-like receptor 7/8 (TLR7/8) agonist resiquimod (R848) to synthesize PLGA-ICG-R848 NPs.