Aptamer–conjugated graphene oxide–gold nanocomposites for targeted chemo-photothermal therapy of cancer cells

Abstract

The current cancer therapies in clinical practice demonstrate the need for improvements such as improving the efficiency and reducing the severe side effects. Herein, we integrated the targeted chemotherapy and photothermal therapy in a multifunctional drug-delivery platform. The targeting DNA aptamer (Apt)–modified graphene oxide–gold nanoparticle (GO–AuNP) composites were successfully synthesized. The doxorubicin (DOX)–loaded GO–AuNP–Apt system showed heat-stimulative and sustained release characteristics. In vitro cell cytotoxicity experiments showed that combined therapy had the highest rate of death of tumor cells compared to that of single photothermal therapy or chemotherapy. Furthermore, aptamer-modification could significantly enhance the accumulation of nanocomposites within cancer cells. Our study demonstrates that aptamer–modified GO–Au nanocomposites may have potential in the development of targeted photothermal therapy and chemotherapy against cancer cells.