Recent studies have highlighted the overexpression of mucin 1 (MUC1) in various epithelial carcinomas and its role in tumorigenesis. These mucins present a novel targeting opportunity for nanoparticle-mediated photothermal cancer treatments due to their unique antenna-like extension. MUC1 antibodies were introduced into the albumin coating of polydopamine-primed gold nanorods (DP-NRs). As an analog of the mussel-mimetic adhesive catechol L-3,4-dihydroxyphenylalanine (DOPA), DP forms an adhesive platform for the deposition of albumin and MUC1 antibodies, achieving a surface that is stable, bioinert and biofunctional. Two-photon luminescence confocal and darkfield scattering imaging revealed targeting of MUC1-BSA-DP-NRs to MUC1+ MCF-7 breast cancer and SCC-15 squamous cell carcinoma cells lines. Treated cells were exposed to a laser encompassing the near-infrared AuNR surface plasmon and assessed for photothermal ablation. MUC1-BSA-DP-NRs substantially decreased cell viability in photoirradiated MCF-7 cell lines vs. MUC1- MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cells (p < 0.005). Agents exhibited no cytotoxicity in the absence of photothermal treatment. The facile integration of the coating may provide novel prospects for multimodal cancer therapy via albumin-based therapeutics such as Abraxane. Future work will probe the in vivo efficacy of these NRs and whether albumin’s involvement in the gp60-mediated endothelial transcytosis pathway may be exploited to enhance intratumoral delivery.

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