Anisotropic Plasmonic Gold Nanorod–Indocyanine Green@Reduced Graphene Oxide–Doxorubicin Nanohybrids for Image-Guided Enhanced Tumor Theranostics

Abstract

The unique physicochemical and localized surface plasmon resonance assets of gold nanorods (GNRs) have offered combined cancer treatments with real-time diagnosis by integrating diverse theragnostic modalities into a single nanoplatform. In this work, a unique multifunctional nanohybrid material based on GNRs was designed for in vitro and in vivo tumor imaging along with synergistic and combinatorial therapy of tumor. The hybrid material with size less than 100 nm was achieved by embedding indocyanine green (ICG) on mesoporous silica-coated GNRs with further wrapping of reduced graphene oxide (rGO) and then attached with doxorubicin (DOX) and polyethylene glycol. The nanohybrid unveiled noteworthy stability and competently protected the embedded ICG from further aggregation, photobleaching, and nucleophilic attack by encapsulation of GNRs-ICG with rGO. Such combination of GNRs-ICG with rGO and DOX served as a real-time near-infrared (NIR) contrast imaging agent for cancer diagnosis. The hybrid material exhibits high NIR absorption property along with three destined capabilities, such as, nanozymatic activity, photothermal activity, and an excellent drug carrier for drug delivery. The integrated properties of the nanohybrid were then utilized for the triple mode of combined therapeutics of tumor cells, through synergistic catalytic therapy and chemotherapy with combinatorial photothermal therapy to achieve the maximum cancer killing efficiency. It is assumed that the assimilated multimodal imaging and therapeutic capability in single nanoparticle platform is advantageous for future practical applications in cancer diagnosis, therapy, and molecular imaging.

Amylase degradation enhanced NIR photothermal therapy and fluorescence imaging of bacterial biofilm infections

“…52 Besides, the strong and broad peaks near 2900 cm −1 and 1110 cm −1 in the spectrum of MAPI NSs could be ascribed to the C–H and C–O stretching vibrations of PEG, respectively. 53,54 The existence of an IR absorption band at 888 cm −1 could be attributed to the aromatic ring absorption of ICG, 55 which further indicates the successful preparation of MAPI NSs.…”

Surface engineered nanohybrids in plasmonic photothermal therapy for cancer: Regulatory and translational challenges

“…It was found to have the ability to kill cancer cells. The epidermis was not burned, and the temperature dropped to body temperature within 1 minute, indicating a safer therapy 12 .…”

“…This material was effective in reducing the photobleaching effect of ICG. A unique core-shell nanohybrid platform containing gold nanorods loaded with ICG in the core and coated with mesoporous silica serves as the shell, which is further wrapped with reduced graphene oxide (rGO) attached with polyethylene glycol and doxorubicin (DOX) was developed for maximum anticancer efficiency 12 . This study explored the tuneable LSPR of anisotropic gold nanorods (maximum at 758 nm), which was further sifted after mesoporous silica coating (at 768 nm) and loading of ICG (at 780 nm).…”

Plasmon-enhanced nano-photosensitizers: game-changers in photodynamic therapy of cancers

“…Maji and co-workers 110 developed core–shell mesoporous silica-coated gold nanorods embedded with indocyanine green@reduced graphene oxide (GNRs-ICG@rGO), loaded with doxorubicin for cancer diagnosis applications. Based on the FDTD simulations shown in Fig.…”