Near-Infrared-Responsive Choline-Calix[4]arene-Gold Nanostructures for Potential Photothermal Cancer Treatment

Abstract

The development of novel chemical approaches for the fabrication of gold nanostructures with localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) falling in the near-infrared (NIR) region is one challenging topic in nanomaterials science. Due to their optical and photothermal properties triggered by light excitation in the therapeutic window (λ max = 650−1300 nm), gold-based nanostructures are appealing candidates in anticancer nanomedicine. Here, we report a novel method to prepare waterdispersible gold nanostructures with NIR-LSPR (λ max = 600−1000 nm) properties. The gold nanostructures were achieved in a single step by an unconventional method using NADH as a reducing agent and an amphiphilic choline-calix[4]arene derivative (Chol-Calix) forming micelles as a template. The CholCalix-Au nanostructures were characterized by UV−visible spectrophotometry, Raman spectroscopy, and atomic force microscopy. Agglomeration of the nanostructures due to multiple crosslinking interactions was observed and supported by modeling simulation. Effective anticancer photothermal-induced effect of the CholCalix-AuNPs was demonstrated on human breast cancer cells irradiated with biofriendly light at 808 nm.

Red light-triggerable nanohybrids of graphene oxide, gold nanoparticles and thermo-responsive polymers for combined photothermia and drug release effects

“…This finding not only corroborates the effective linkage of PNM to the AuNPs, but also indicates the electronic interactions between the two species, as reported for other species grafted to GO. 33 Moreover, as previously observed for similar Au nanostructured materials, 31 the red shifts of the AuNP LSPR band evidence both surface electronic interaction and nanoaggregation phenomena. The successful GO-Au formation was easily evidenced by the colour change of the GO suspension from brown-yellow to red-purple, which is consistent with the presence of the AuNPs.…”

Photothermal-Contrast Method Based on In Situ Gold Nanostructure Formation for Phenylalanine Detection in Human Blood

“…11 Great efforts have been made in the development of nanostructured materials to improve analytical performance and enable the integration of assays into miniaturized sensing devices. In this scenario, optical, electrical, physical, and photothermal properties of nanostructured materials enable their application in biosensing areas, 12 biomedicine, 13 gene delivery, 14 and lateral flow immunoassay 15 as well as photothermal-induced reactions. 16 The photothermal effect is the most intriguing property of plasmonic nanostructures.…”

Recent Advances of Photoactive Near-Infrared Carbon Dots in Cancer Photodynamic Therapy

“…The light-induced hyperthermia is able to effectively kill cancer cells. PTT requires laser irradiation with reasonable power to generate heat, and the PTT effect highly depends on the photothermal conversion efficiency (η%) of the CDs [ 68 , 69 ]. As PDT and PTT have their individual limitations, a combination of the two invasive therapies provides inspiration [ 70 ].…”