Targeted Therapy for Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer Using Antibody-Coated Gold Nanoparticles

Purpose:Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related death in the United States among both men and women. Approximately 85 to 90% of all lung cancers are non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Unfortunately, NSCLC is extremely difficult to treat and survival rates are low (the five year survival rate is Methods: AuNPs with pendant –COOH and –OH groups are synthesized by the reduction of gold ions in the presence of a mixture of alkanethiols. A targeting ligand (mAb) is attached to the AuNPs by EDC-coupling. The size and zeta potential of the AuNPs is determined using dynamic light scattering and TEM, and the amount of antibody conjugation quantified via colorimetry. Uptake of AuNP and AuNP-mAb in various NSCLC cell lines with various levels of expression of the adhesion molecule was then performed Results: AuNP-mAb was synthesized, characterized and uptake tested in cell culture. We anticipate next to attach a platinum prodrug and test for use in targeted therapy for NSCLC.