金纳米棒（GNR）在近红外光照射下产生热量，从而实现肿瘤靶向光热疗法。在本研究中，我们制备了涂有硫酸化透明质酸（sHA）的 GNR，通过静电相互作用与 CD44 具有结合亲和力，从而将 GNR 有效稳定地递送至肿瘤，并评估了其在光热治疗中的有用性。用三甲基铵基团修饰的阳离子 GNR 与具有不同硫酸化程度的天然 HA 或 sHA 发生静电相互作用，形成复合物。虽然 GNR/HA 在盐水中不稳定，但 GNR/sHA 在近红外区域保持吸光度峰值，特别是对于硫酸化程度较高的 GNR/sHA。 GNR/sHA 在近红外光照射下表现出强烈的光热效应。此外，体外和体内研究表明，每个HA单位含有约1.2个硫酸基团的sHA包被的GNR可以通过HA特异性途径在CD44阳性肿瘤中积累。这些发现表明 GNR/sHA 作为肿瘤靶向光热治疗剂的有效性。版权所有 © 2024。由 Elsevier Inc. 出版。

Gold nanorods (GNRs) produce heat upon irradiation with near-infrared light, enabling a tumor-targeted photothermal therapy. In this study, we prepared GNRs coated with sulfated hyaluronic acid (sHA) with a binding affinity for CD44 via electrostatic interactions to deliver GNRs to tumors efficiently and stably, and evaluated their usefulness for photothermal therapy. Cationic GNRs modified with trimethylammonium groups electrostatically interacted with native HA or sHA with varying degrees of sulfation to form complexes. While GNR/HA was unstable in saline, GNR/sHA maintained the absorbance peak in the near-infrared region, particularly for GNR/sHA with higher degrees of sulfation. GNR/sHA exhibited an intense photothermal effect upon irradiation with near-infrared light. Furthermore, in vitro and in vivo studies revealed that GNR coated with sHA containing approximately 1.2 sulfated groups per HA unit could accumulate in CD44-positive tumors via an HA-specific pathway. These findings indicate the effectiveness of GNR/sHA as a tumor-targeted photothermal therapeutic agent.Copyright © 2024. Published by Elsevier Inc.