Overcoming drug resistance microspheres combined with photothermal ablation reinforce transcatheter arterial chemoembolization of hepatocellular carcinoma
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. This study reports dual-effect embolized microspheres integrated with photothermal ablation for the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma via transcatheter arterial chemoembolization.
Authors
- Kunpeng Wu (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6408-8927)
- Yiming Liu (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5898-9913)
- Huijuan Wu (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4681-4440)
- Ping Wu (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0551-6300)
- Qingqing He
- Jianzhuang Ren (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7003-8678)
- Linyong Du (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9240-4402)
- Bingtong Yue (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0000-6458-0612)
- Xinwei Han (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4407-4864)
- Yanan Zhao (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6634-2949)
- Zhen Li (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8037-4245)
- Jing Li (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5454-5135)
- Bin Han (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0001-1672-0358)
- Yiran Wang (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9062-4751)
- Kewei Ren (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7930-6966)
- Guangying Zheng (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3696-9257)
- Zongming Li (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9314-5214)
- Jiheng Shan (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0007-7748-9317)
- Xiaonan Shan
- C.H. Zhang (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0005-7097-4569)
Institutions
- Wenzhou Medical University (CN)
- Zhengzhou University (CN)
- Henan Academy of Sciences (CN)
- First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University (CN)
Publication Details
- Journal
- Communications Materials
- Published
- 2025-11-25
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.1038/s43246-025-00995-w
- Primary Topic
- Hepatocellular Carcinoma Treatment and Prognosis
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 0.00
Funders
- National Natural Science Foundation of China
- Zhengzhou University
- Henan University