Overcoming drug resistance microspheres combined with photothermal ablation reinforce transcatheter arterial chemoembolization of hepatocellular carcinoma
摘要
Drug-eluting microspheres (DEMs) are key for transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE) in advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), but face challenges like tumor multidrug resistance (MDR) and poor post-TACE outcomes. Here we show a dual-effect microsphere (PTIMS) co-encapsulating idarubicin (IDA) and tariquidar (TQR) for simultaneous chemotherapy and MDR reversal, plus minimally invasive photothermal therapy (PTT) to boost antitumor efficacy. Physicochemical tests confirm IDA/TQR loading in PTIMS, with PTT accelerating drug release. In vitro, PTIMS-PTT strongly inhibits H22 cell proliferation, migration and invasion by downregulating membrane P-glycoprotein (P-gp), promoting apoptosis and reducing IDA efflux. In vivo, it suppresses tumor growth in murine H22 models (upregulating TNF-α, downregulating Ki67/P-gp) and inhibits progression in rabbit VX2 liver tumors via robust embolization. PTIMS offers a promising strategy to enhance TACE efficacy, with high clinical translation potential.