Smart co-delivery of Erlotinib and Camptothecin using silica-coated gold nanorods functionalized with recombinant anti-BMP receptor type AI

Non-small cell lung carcinoma is a particularly aggressive cancer with a poor outlook. Although Erlotinib (ELT) and Camptothecin (CPT) are commonly used together in chemotherapy, their effectiveness is limited when administered as free drugs. To enhance their efficacy, we developed a novel nanomedicine consisting of gold nanorods (Au-NRs) coated with a functionalized silica network to deliver both drugs simultaneously. This strategy aims to improve cancer cell targeting, suppress cell proliferation, and induce apoptosis. The nanomedicine was further engineered with a recombinant anti-BMP receptor AI (BMPR-AI) single-chain variable fragment (scFv) fused with maltose-binding protein for targeted delivery. Successful coating and functionalization were confirmed through various analyses, including HR-TEM, EDS/EDAX, zeta potential measurements, and FT-IR. The resulting CPT/ELT/scFv@Au-NR nanomedicine effectively targeted BMPR-AI-overexpressing cancer cells, significantly inhibiting cell growth and inducing apoptosis more efficiently than the free drugs. This promising approach exhibits enhanced cytotoxic effects and holds the potential for more effective chemotherapy and future advancements in cancer treatment.