Photothermal cancer therapy by gold-ferrite nanocomposite and near-infrared laser in animal model

Abstract

Surface plasmon resonance effect of gold nanostructures makes them good candidates for photothermal therapy (PTT) application. Herein, gold-ferrite nanocomposite (GFNC) was synthesized and characterized as a photothermal agent in PTT. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of GFNC upon laser irradiation on treatment of cancer in mice bearing melanoma cancer. Thirty mice received 1.5 × 10(6) B16/F10 cells subcutaneously. After 1 week, the mice bearing solid tumor were divided into four groups: control group (without any treatment), laser group (received laser irradiation without GFNC injection), GFNC group (only received intratumorally GFNC), and GFNC + laser group (received intratumorally GFNC upon laser irradiation). In GFNC + laser group, 200 μL of fluid, 1.3 × 10(-7) mol L(-1) gold nanoparticles, was injected intratumorally and immediately the site of tumor was exposed to continuous wave diode laser beam (808 nm, 1.6 W cm(-2)) for 15 min. All mice but four were euthanized 24 h after treatment to compare the necrotic surface area histologically by using measuring graticule. Statistical analyses revealed significant differences in necrosis extent for GFNC + laser group, compared to other groups. Four subjects (control group and GFNC + laser group, two mice each) were kept for longitudinal study. Histological analyses and tumor volume measurements of the four subjects indicated that tumor in GFNC + laser group was controlled appropriately. It was concluded that combining an 808-nm laser at a power density of 1.6 W cm(-2) with GFNC has a destruction effect in melanoma cancer cells in an animal model.

Recent developments in nanomedicine for melanoma treatment

“…exposed gold‐ferrite nanoparticles to an 808 nm near‐infrared laser. Compared with the control group, the melanoma tumor volume was reduced significantly …”

“…Compared with the control group, the melanoma tumor volume was reduced significantly. 102 Carbon nanotubes are another attractive light reagent. 103,104 In recent years, they have been developed rapidly as a PTT reagent for tumor treatment, [105][106][107][108] but the biosafety and stability of carbon nanotubes continue to restrict their application.…”

Nanosystems for Improved Targeted Therapies in Melanoma

“…A gold-ferrite nano-composite (GFNC) proved to be suitable in melanoma PTT ablation. After the injection of the gold nano-shell as a photothermal agent and upon laser irradiation in melanoma mice models, the tumor volume tumor size was substantially diminished when compared to the control groups [74].…”

Using gold nanoparticles in diagnosis and treatment of melanoma cancer

“…As previously mentioned, AuNPs are employed for in vivo PTT owing to the fact that they have strong absorption in the near infra-red regions of the electromagnetic spectrum and they generate a localized heat so as to destroy a region of interest [105]. Heidari et al [106] have synthesized and characterized a gold-ferrite nanocomposite (GFNC) as a single composite nanomaterial that can be used in various therapeutic modalities. They have demonstrated GFNC enabled to destroy B16F0 melanoma-tumour-bearing mice upon NIR irradiation (via an 808-nm diode laser) without additional organic photosensitizers.…”