Abstract
PURPOSE: Chemotherapy remains an effective treatment for pancreatic cancer. However, the limitations of single-modal therapies and the absence of imaging-based monitoring during treatment pose challenges for real-time optimization of drug delivery, resulting in suboptimal therapeutic outcomes. METHODS: This study aims to design and develop a novel nanoparticle drug delivery system, HMP-ICG&DOX, which incorporates indocyanine green (ICG) as an FDA-approved near-infrared photothermal agent and doxorubicin (DOX) as a commonly used chemotherapeutic drug. The modification with NH(2)-PEG-NH(2) enhances the biocompatibility of the nanocarrier. The designed nanoprobe exhibits the following features: (1) It decomposes in the tumor microenvironment (TME) to release Mn(2+) for magnetic resonance T(1) imaging, while ICG provides near-infrared fluorescence imaging capabilities. (2) It facilitates synergistic photothermal-chemotherapy, significantly improving therapeutic efficacy against pancreatic cancer. (3) The pH-responsive drug release enhances drug utilization efficiency while minimizing side effects. RESULTS: Experimental results demonstrate that HMP-ICG&DOX nanoparticles possess excellent biocompatibility, antitumor activity, controlled drug release, and multimodal imaging tracking abilities. CONCLUSION: In conclusion, the HMP-ICG&DOX nanoparticles designed in this study offer promising applications in the diagnosis and treatment of pancreatic cancer.