Tunable Nanostructures as Photothermal Theranostic Agents

Abstract

The theranostic potential of several nanostructures has been discussed in the context of photothermal therapies and imaging. In the last several decades, the burden of cancer has grown rapidly, making the need for new theranostic approaches vital. Lasers have emerged as promising tools in cancer treatment, especially with the advent of photothermal therapies wherein light absorbing dyes or plasmonic gold nanoparticles are used to generate heat and achieve tumor damage. Recently, photoabsorbing nanostructures have materialized that can be employed in conjunction with lasers in the near-infrared region in order to enhance both imaging and photothermal effects. The incorporation of tunable nanostructures has resulted in improved specificity in cancer treatment. Silica-cored gold nanoshells and gold nanorods currently serve as the chief plasmonic structures for photothermal therapy. Although gold nanorods and silica-cored gold nanoshells have shown promise as therapeutic agents, over the past few years new nanostructures have emerged that offer comparable and even superior theranostic properties. In the present review, several theranostic agents and their impact on the development of more effective photothermal therapies for the treatment of cancer are discussed. These agents include hollow gold nanoshells, gold gold-sulfide nanoparticles, gold nanocages, carbon and titanium nanotubes, photothermal-based nanobubbles, polymeric nanoparticles and copper-based nanocrystals.

The Laser Technology: New Trends in Biology and Medicine

“…Here gold nanoparticles have the advantage that their plasmonic properties can be used for photothermal therapy [70]. Plasmonic photothermal therapy using gold nanoparticles was described in 2004 by O'Neal et al In this study, tumour subcutaneously xenografted in mice was intravenously injected with gold nanoshells.…”

A brief glimpse over the horizon for type 1 diabetes nanotherapeutics

“…Alternatively, EM can also modulate the release of biologics and drugs from NPs. For example, one can design NPs with ligands in the fashion of pMHC to promote the binding to autoreactive T-cells (even though some antigen-specific T-cells could be bound as well) and then, with deep penetrating light/laser/ microwaves/ultrasound, induce NP mechanical motion that results in the damage of the cell membrane leading to cell killing [69,70]. Another approach could be EM-dependent drug/biology release.…”

Nanoparticles for hyperthermic therapy: synthesis strategies and applications in glioblastoma

“…This property was used in numerous studies to develop photodynamic therapy for GBM treatment. 44 The most efficient strategies for the synthesis of GNRs of different aspect ratios and sizes are discussed here.…”