Abstract
Photothermal Therapy (PTT) impact in cancer therapy has been increasing due to the enhanced photothermal capabilities of a new generation of nanoscale photothermal agents. Among these nanoscale agents, gold nanoshells and nanorods have demonstrated optimal properties for translation of near infra-red radiation into heat at the site of interest. However, smaller spherical gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) are easier to produce, less toxic and show improved photoconversion capability that may profit from the irradiation in the visible via standard surgical green lasers. Here we show the efficient light-to-heat conversion of spherical 14 nm AuNPs irradiated in the visible region (at the surface plasmons resonance peak) and its application to selectively obliterate cancer cells. Using breast cancer as model, we show a synergistic interaction between heat (photoconversion at 530 nm) and cytotoxic action by doxorubicin with clear advantages to those of the individual therapy approaches.
Highlights
Photothermal therapy (PTT) is a minimally-invasive therapeutic strategy, where light irradiation is converted by photothermal agents to heat, increasing the temperature of specific tissues 1
Stable citrate capped spherical AuNPs were synthesised with an average diameter of 14 (±3) nm, determined by Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) (Fig. 2), and further functionalised with thiolated PEG350 to saturate the AuNPs’ surface (Supplementary Fig. S1)
PEG350 functionalisation was confirmed by a red-shift of the plasmon absorbance peak, a 3 nm increase to the hydrodynamic radius determined by dynamic light scattering (DLS) and rise in Zeta Potential values of 54 mV (−74 to −20 mV) (Fig. 2 and Table 1)
Summary
Photothermal therapy (PTT) is a minimally-invasive therapeutic strategy, where light irradiation is converted by photothermal agents to heat, increasing the temperature of specific tissues 1. AuNPs exhibit unique physicochemical properties, including their surface plasmon resonance (SPR), which relies on the interaction between an electromagnetic wave and free conduction electrons at the AuNPs’ surface, causing them to oscillate coherently in resonance with the frequency of visible light, resulting in strong electromagnetic fields. This phenomenon greatly enhances both the scattering and the absorption of light by the AuNP suitable for different biomedical applications[4,5,6]. By using a traditional drug as DOX, we illustrate the possibility to combine chemo- and PTT with improved efficacy and doing so by irradiation with existing lasers currently used in the clinics
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