Selective Photothermal Eradication of Glioblastoma Cells Coexisting with Astrocytes by Anti-EGFR-Coated Raman Tags

Glioblastoma (GBM) is an aggressive and fatal tumor. The infiltrative spread of GBM cells hinders gross total resection. The residual GBM cells are significantly associated with survival and recurrence. Therefore, a theranostic method that can enhance the contrast between residual GBM and normal astrocyte (AS) cells and selectively eradicate GBM cells is highly desired. In this report, GBM and normal astrocyte cells are both cultured in the same microplate well to imitate a coexistence environment and treated with Raman tags functionalized by anti-EGFR. Compared to AS cells, GBM cells show 25% higher Raman emission, and their cell death rate increases by a factor of 2. These results demonstrate the potential for selective eradication of the residual GBM cells guided by robust Raman signals after the primary GBM surgery.