Advanced Precision Dual Photothermal and Photodynamic Therapy for Prostate Cancer Using PSMA-ICG-Conjugated Gold Nanorods

Prostate cancer is the second most common cancer among men globally. In this study, we developed a prostate-cancer-targeted gold nanoparticle-based photothermal and photodynamic complex (GNR-ICG-FA@PSMA) to enhance the targeting efficiency of prostate cancer cells and simultaneously deliver photothermal therapy (PTT) and photodynamic therapy (PDT). For the in vitro tests, ROS assays, annexin V/PI staining, and MTT assays were conducted. In the in vivo tests, fluorescence and photoacoustic imaging systems were used to track the distribution of nanoparticles in animal models. Tumor tissues were analyzed post-treatment using Triphenyl tetrazolium chloride (TTC) staining, Hematoxylin and Eosin (HE) staining, and Immunohistochemistry (IHC) staining. The in vitro results showed that GNR-ICG with laser irradiation produced high levels of ROS, the highest rate of apoptosis, and the lowest cell viability. In the in vivo tests, tail-injected GNR-ICG-FA@PSMA reached the tumor within 9 h. During laser irradiation, GNRs increased the temperature (<50 °C), inducing necrosis, while ICGs generated ROS, leading to apoptosis. The results demonstrated that folic acid (FA) and PSMA antibodies improved prostate cancer-specific targeting. GNRs and ICGs contributed to the photothermal and photodynamic effects, respectively. This study confirms the potential of GNR-ICG-FA@PSMA for targeted photothermal and photodynamic therapy of prostate cancer.