Kwiatek, W. M. | Search bioRxiv

bioRxiv2026

An Effective Metal Nanoparticle-Based Drug Delivery System for an In Vitro Model of Non Small Cell Lung Cancer

This study presents the development and spectroscopic characterization of an erlotinib-functionalized gold nanoparticle (erlotinib:AuNP) nanosystem designed for targeted delivery to metastatic non-small cell lung cancer H1299 cells. Initial MTS assays demonstrated that free erlotinib induced a concentration-dependent reduction in cell viability, while 0.1 {micro}M erlotinib exhibited negligible cytotoxicity and was therefore selected for nanosystem fabrication. AuNPs alone showed minimal toxicity toward H1299 cells over the investigated concentration range. Following conjugation of erlotinib with AuNPs, the resulting nanosystems reduced cell viability to approximately 60%, indicating enhanced biological activity of the drug after nanoparticle-assisted delivery. Fluorescence microscopy confirmed the intracellular internalization of the nanosystems in H1299 cells, with nanoparticle aggregates predominantly localized in the perinuclear and perimitochondrial regions. Three-dimensional Raman spectroscopy (3D RS) mapping further verified the intracellular localization of the conjugates through characteristic Raman signatures of erlotinib:AuNPs. Importantly, 3D RS enabled detection of nanosystems at concentrations below the sensitivity limit of fluorescence imaging, demonstrating superior analytical performance for intracellular nanosystem tracking. Atomic force microscopy-infrared (AFM-IR) spectroscopy coupled with principal component analysis (PCA) demonstrated substantial biochemical modifications induced by the erlotinib:AuNP nanosystems, including enhanced lipid-related spectral features and significant alterations in protein secondary structure, particularly the increased contribution of unordered and antiparallel {beta}-turn conformations. The obtained results demonstrate that combining plasmonic nanocarriers with advanced vibrational spectroscopy enables highly sensitive monitoring of intracellular drug delivery and nanosystem-induced biochemical responses in cancer cells.

biophysics↗

bioRxiv2023

High resolution optical spectroscopy for the evaluation of cannabidiol efficiency as a radiation therapy support of peripheral nervous system tumors

An increasing number of scientific papers discuss the promising therapeutic potential of cannabidiol (CBD) not only for the treatment of cancer, but also for asthma and neurodegenerative disorders. This happens mainly due to its proven anticancer, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant properties. In the field of cancer research, the use of CBD has already been investigated on malignant tumors of the central nervous system, like gliomas. So far, CBD has not yet been explored in the therapy of peripheral nervous system (PNS) tumors. Peripheral nerves reside outside the central nervous system, therefore peripheral nerve tumors can occur anywhere in the body. When the tumor develops within large blood vessels, spinal nerves or involves more than one peripheral nerve, radiotherapy is recommended. Due to high doses of ionizing radiation, complications such as dizziness, damage to adjacent nerves, or malignancy of the lesion may occur. Therefore, it is important to develop a treatment scheme that efficiently reduces tumor volume while maintaining the normal functions of the surrounding cells and decrease the side effects. Herein, we proposed to combine hyperspectral imaging using Raman and FTIR spectroscopy and AFM-IR technique as a novel approach to monitor the therapeutic efficacy of CBD. Performed studies reviled the dual effect of CBD, that protects normal cells from ionizing radiation and increases its toxicity in cancer cells.

biophysics↗