Objective To prepare targeted ultrasonic nanobubbles carrying small-molecule CXCR4 antagonist AMD070, which can be used in integrated diagnosis and treatment, and investigate the binding ability to breast cancer cells in vitro, in order to investigate the inhibitory effect of ultrasound targeted nanobubble destruction (UTMD) on the growth of breast cancer cells. Methods Targeted nanobubbles carrying AMD070 were prepared using the carbodiimide method and mechanical oscillation. Their particle size and zeta potential were assessed. The specific binding ability of targeted nanobubbles to breast cancer cells in vitro was evaluated. CCK-8 assay was used to optimize the parameters of UTMD and evaluate the inhibitory effect of targeted nanobubbles combined with UTMD on growth of breast cancer cells. Result The average particle size and zeta potential of ultrasonic targeted nanobubbles carrying AMD070 was 481.72±26.17 nm and -7.14±0.31 mV, respectively. AMD070 was efficiently bound to the nanobubbles. In vitro experiment showed that the targeted nanobubbles displayed stronger affinity to CXCR4 positive breast cancer cells when compared with the blank nanobubbles. When combined with UTMD, targeted nanobubbles exerted a remarkable inhibitory effect on the proliferation in CXCR4 positive breast cancer cells. Conclusion Targeted nanobubbles can specifically bind to CXCR4 positive breast cancer cells, and when combined with optimized UTMD, and the targeted nanobubbles can significantly inhibit the growth of CXCR4 positive breast cancer cells in vitro.
