We designed novel biocompatible nanocomposite composed of gold nanorods coated with rod-like mesoporous silica SBA-15-SH particles, (GNRs@SBA-15-SH) as a new synergistic therapeutic device to deliver heat and drug to cancer cells for tumor eradication. For this purpose, doxorubicin (DOX) was loaded into GNRs@SBA-15-SH nanocomposites and studied their photothermal therapy, chemotherapy and the combined effect on the ablation of A549 cells in vitro using human lung cancer cells, A549. The results demonstrate the high photothermal efficacy of gold nanorods loaded into the nanocomposite, the thermo-responsive properties of GNRs@SBA-15-SH, the high loading capacity of DOX into the GNRs@SBA-15-SH and its biocompatibility. Synergistic chemo-photothermal of the GNRs@SBA-15-SH/DOX nanocomposite in the eradication of cancer cells under laser irradiation (808 nm), demonstrates the high potential of therapeutic efficacy of this combined therapy over monotherapies.

Chemo-photothermal therapy has attracted extensive research attention because of its synergistic effect in destroying cancer cells, which makes it one of the most effective treatments. Gold nanorods conjugated with thiolated beta-cyclodextrin loaded with doxorubicin (DOX), AuNRs@S-β-CD-DOX nanocomposite, for intracellular delivery were designed to enhance therapeutic efficacy and improve toxicity of gold nanorods. The UV–vis absorption spectra of the AuNRs@S-β-CD nanocomposite showed strong absorption in the NIR region (biological window), making it a promising candidate for both photothermal therapy and chemotherapy. With such a combined chemo-photothermal effect, the viability of A549 lung cancer cells in vitro is anticipated to be significantly reduced making it a promising biomedical material for cancer treatment. The results show good photothermal efficiency of gold nanorods, high loading capacity for DOX, and biocompatibility of the AuNRs@S-β-CD-DOX nanocomposite.