paria Tamaddon - Department of Medical Physics, School of Medicine, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
Ghazale Perota - Nanomedicine and Nanobiology Research Center, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
Rezvan Dehdari Vais - Nanomedicine and Nanobiology Research Center, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
Naghmeh Sattarahmady - Nanomedicine and Nanobiology Research Center, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran

Introduction: Nowadays, the applications of non-invasive treating cancer methods such as photothermal therapy (PTT) and sonodynamic therapy (SDT) are increasing. These treatments use photo/sonosensitizers, which are activated after being exposed by laser light irradiation and ultrasound (US) exposure, respectively. Methods: Herein, a gold-poly (ortho-aminophenol) nanocomposite (Au-PoAP NC) with a spherical shape, a diameter of ۴۶±۸ nm was synthesized and evaluated as an ۸۰۸-nm laser photosensitizer (with ۳۰% photothermal efficiency) and a sonosensitizer upon US exposure. Additionally, Au-PoAP NC was appraised with doxorubicin (as a chemotherapy agent) for treating breast cancer cells. The MTT test was done for cell-toxicity evaluation of Au-PoAP NC, doxorubicin, and Au-PoAP NC with doxorubicin with or without irradiation and US exposure (separately and synchronously). Results: The results proved that light irradiation and US exposure (separately and synchronously) of Au-PoAP NC with doxorubicin significantly enhanced the cell toxicity in other treatment groups. Moreover, cytotoxicity of Au-PoAP NC, doxorubicin, and Au-PoAP NC with doxorubicin toward MCF-۷ cells upon PTT and/or SDT was investigated from the aspect of reactive oxygen species (ROS) formation. Calculating the combination indices revealed that synchronous administration of Au-PoAP NC and doxorubicin and light irradiation and US exposure represented a synergistic therapeutic manner for treating cancer cells. Conclusion: This study proved that the synchronous combination of PTT and SDT using Au-PoAP NC with doxorubicin would be an exemplary approach for treating the breast cancer cell line of MCF-۷.

Diode laser, Ultrasound waves, Drug delivery, Nanogold, ۲-aminophenol