In vivo stealthified molecularly imprinted polymer nanogels incorporated with gold nanoparticles for radiation therapy.

Radiation therapy is a representative therapeutic approach for cancer treatment, wherein the development of efficient radiation sensitizers with low side effects is critical. In this study, a novel stealth radiation sensitizer based on Au-embedded molecularly imprinted polymer nanogels (Au MIP-NGs) was developed for low-dose X-ray radiation therapy. Surface plasmon resonance measurements reveal the good affinity and selectivity of the obtained Au MIP-NGs toward the target dysopsonic protein, human serum albumin. The protein recognition capability of the nanogels led to the formation of the albumin-rich protein corona in the plasma. The Au MIP-NGs acquire stealth capability in vivo through protein corona regulation using the intrinsic dysopsonic proteins. The injection of Au MIP-NGs improved the efficiency of the radiation therapy in mouse models of pancreatic cancer. The growth of the pancreatic tumor was inhibited even at low X-ray doses (2 Gy). The novel strategy reported in this study for the synthesis of stealth nanomaterials based on nanomaterial-protein interaction control shows significant potential for application even in other approaches for cancer treatment, diagnostics, and theranostics. This strategy paves a way for the development of a wide range of effective nanomedicines for cancer therapy.