Targeted photo-chemo therapy of malignancy on the chest wall while cardiopulmonary avoidance based on Fe3O4@ZnO nanocomposites

Treatment of malignancies on the chest wall, like chest wall recurrence of tumor, advanced cutaneous neoplasm and lymphoma, is still a challenge due to the involvement of the critical structures of heart and lung by the conventional strategy. The aim of the current study was to investigate targeted photo-chemo therapy mediated by Fe3O4@ZnO nanocomposites for malignancy on the chest wall while cardiopulmonary avoidance. Fe3O4@ZnO/Dox nanocomposites, the synthesis of the core-shell Fe3O4@ZnO nanocomposites followed by loading doxorubicin (Dox), were prepared to act as multifunctional drug delivery system (DDS). The synergistic anticancer effects on tumor on the chest wall and protection performance of heart and lung were evaluated in vitro and in vivo using cell viability assay, apoptosis detection, histopathologic examination, and serum biochemistry tests. Our observations demonstrated that Fe3O4@ZnO/Dox nanocomposites, could play the role of magnetic drug targeting to deliver Dox into tumor tissues and cells to enhance its chemotherapeutic efficiency. Besides, with ultraviolet (UV) illumination, Fe3O4@ZnO showed the excellent property of photosensitizer, further attacking the cancer cells by photodynamic therapy (PDT). Thus, apoptosis was synergistically induced by the photo-chemo therapy, resulting in a distinct improvement in anticancer activity. Since UV has a limited penetration distance in tissue, causing PDT to fail in the critical structures of heart and lung, cardiopulmonary hurt could be avoided during the treatment. Therefore, targeted photo-chemo therapy mediated by Fe3O4@ZnO nanocomposites may have promise as a potent treatment option for superficial malignancies on the chest wall while cardiopulmonary avoidance.