Abstract
Smart multifunctional nanoparticles with magnetic and plasmonic properties assembled on a single nanoplatform are promising for various biomedical applications. Owing to their expanding imaging and therapeutic capabilities in response to external stimuli, they have been explored for on-demand drug delivery, image-guided drug delivery, and simultaneous diagnostic and therapeutic (i.e. theranostic) applications. In this study, we engineered nanoparticles with unique morphology consisting of a superparamagnetic iron oxide core and star-shaped plasmonic shell with high-aspect-ratio gold branches. Strong magnetic and near-infrared (NIR)-responsive plasmonic properties of the engineered nanostars enabled multimodal quantitative imaging combining advantageous functions of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), magnetic particle imaging (MPI), photoacoustic imaging (PAI), and image-guided drug delivery with a tunable drug release capacity. The model drug molecules bound to the core-shell nanostars were released upon NIR illumination due to the heat generation from the core-shell nanostars. Moreover, our simulation analysis showed that the specific design of the core-shell nanostars demonstrated a pronounced multipolar plasmon resonance, which has not been observed in previous reports. The multimodal imaging and NIR-triggered drug release capabilities of the proposed nanoplatform verify their potential for precise and controllable drug release with different applications in personalized medicine.
Highlights
Smart multifunctional nanoparticles with magnetic and plasmonic properties assembled on a single nanoplatform are promising for various biomedical applications
Magnetic relaxation occurs in the presence of an alternating magnetic field and this unique response has been applied for magnetic particle imaging (MPI)[13,14] and magnetic hyperthermia, which is a thermal treatment for cancer using heat generation from magnetic nanoparticles[15,16]
Core-shell nanoparticles with spherical morphology (MNP@Au nanospheres) was synthesized in this step, and the absorbance peak was observed within the visible wavelength range[27]
Summary
Smart multifunctional nanoparticles with magnetic and plasmonic properties assembled on a single nanoplatform are promising for various biomedical applications. This NIR-responsive feature is advantageous for optical imaging systems and laser-assisted biomedical applications due to the high penetration efficiency of NIR light into deep tissues We applied this feature for optical imaging system photoacoustic imaging (PAI) and NIR-triggered controlled release of therapeutic agents in addition to magnetically guided drug delivery and multimodal imaging using MRI and MPI. It takes advantages of high optical contrast in optical imaging and high spatial resolution in ultrasound imaging, and overcomes limitations of each imaging modality[31] By combining these advantageous properties, multimodal imaging guidance incorporating MRI, MPI, and PAI allows highly sensitive real-time tracking of therapeutic agents after administration as well as acquisition of accurate anatomical information. The developed nanostars were experimentally and theoretically tested for magnetic and NIR-responsive plasmonic properties, multimodal imaging capabilities, and NIR-triggered controlled drug release
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
