Ultra-efficient highly-selective MFC-7 cancer cell therapy enabled by combined electric-pulse carbon 1D-nanomaterials platforms

Abstract

Advancements in technology are enabling early cancer treatments, improving patient survivability in some types of cancers. Electrothermal cancer therapy offers numerous advantages such as high efficiency and minimal invasiveness. However, traditional electrothermal nanoagents has been limited by unresolved concerns including poor cell-selectivity and weak contrast in ablation efficiency between healthy and cancer cells. Here, we control thermal distributions of cell systems using combined electrical-pulse carbon one-dimensional (1D-) nanomaterial platforms via Joule heating effects. We then proposed the electrothermal ablation of cancer cells using integrated alternating-current (AC-) pulse carbon-nanotube (CNT) platforms. Electrothermal simulations reveal an increased peak temperature for an extended stimulation time within the cell layers in the presence of CNT. Moreover, experiments show a significant difference in CNT biocompatibility between healthy breast epithelial (MCF-10A) cells and luminal breast cancer (MCF-7) cells. Additionally, electrothermal ablation was observed to be enhanced in MCF-7 cells, while cell viability was maintained in MCF-10A cells under the same conditions. Furthermore, a ∼68% decrease in cell viability was achieved after applying AC pulses, above an average of ∼40% decrease in cell viability for existing carbon-based photothermal nanoagents without additional chemotherapeutic drugs. This previously unreported combination of CNT nanomaterials and electrical stimulation represents an approach to unlocking the ultra-efficient electrothermal ablation of MCF-7 cells and provides a promising avenue for cancer treatment.