Spiky Silver–Iron Oxide Nanohybrid for Effective Dual-Imaging and Synergistic Thermo-Chemotherapy

Abstract

Nanophotothermal therapy based on nanoparticles (NPs) that convert near-infrared (NIR) light to generate heat to selectively kill cancer cells has attracted immense interest due to its high efficacy and being free of ionizing radiation damage. Here, for the first time, we have designed a novel nanohybrid, silver−iron oxide NP (AgIONP), which was successfully tuned for strong absorbance at NIR wavelengths to be effective in photothermal treatment and dual-imaging strategy using MRI and photoacoustic imaging (PAI) in a cancer model in vivo and in vitro, respectively. We strategically combine the inherent anticancer activity of silver and photothermal therapy to render excellent therapeutic capability of AgIONPs. In vitro phantoms and in vivo imaging studies displayed preferential uptake of folate-targeted NPs in a cancer mice model, indicating the selective targeting efficiency of NPs. Importantly, a single intravenous injection of NPs in a cancer mice model resulted in significant tumor reduction, and photothermal laser resulted in a further substantial synergistic decrease in tumor size. Additionally, biosafety and biochemical assessment performed in mice displayed no significant difference between NP treatment and control groups. Overall, our folic acid AgIONPs displayed excellent potential in the simultaneous application for safe and successful targeted synergistic photothermal treatment and imaging of a cancer model.

Noble Metal Nanoparticle-Based Photothermal Therapy: Development and Application in Effective Cancer Therapy

“…Therefore, the development of multifunctional nanoplatforms, consisting of AgNPs and iron oxide nanoparticles (IONPs), can be used to develop MRI and PA imaging modalities. Shehzahdi S. Moonshi et al [ 82 ] designed a novel silver–iron oxide nanohybrid and succeeded in the NIR region with effective targeted photothermal therapeutic strategy and dual imaging capability using MRI (in vitro and in vivo) and PAI (in vitro) for anticancer therapy. The excellent anticancer activity of this nanoparticle system is determined by the inherent anticancer properties of Ag and the elevated photothermal temperature under near-infrared light irradiation.…”