Triphase Interface Synthesis of Plasmonic Gold Bellflowers as Near-Infrared Light Mediated Acoustic and Thermal Theranostics

Abstract

We present a novel gold bellflower (GBF) platform with multiple-branched petals, prepared by a liquid–liquid–gas triphase interface system, for photoacoustic imaging (PAI)-guided photothermal therapy (PTT). Upon near-infrared (NIR) laser irradiation, the GBFs, with strong NIR absorption, showed very strong PA response and an ultrahigh photothermal conversion efficiency (η, ∼74%) among the reported photothermal conversion agents. The excellent performance in PAI and PTT is mainly attributed to the unique features of the GBFs: (i) multiple-branched petals with an enhanced local electromagnetic field, (ii) long narrow gaps between adjacent petals that induce a strong plasmonic coupling effect, and (iii) a bell-shaped nanostructure that can effectively amplify the acoustic signals during the acoustic propagation. Besides the notable PTT and an excellent PAI effect, the NIR-absorbing GBFs may also find applications in NIR light-triggered drug delivery, catalysis, surface enhanced Raman scattering, stealth, antireflection, IR sensors, telecommunications, and the like.

Multifunctional upconversion–nanoparticles–trismethylpyridylporphyrin–fullerene nanocomposite: a near-infrared light-triggered theranostic platform for imaging-guided photodynamic therapy

“…Female Balb/c nude mice (16)(17)(18)(19)(20) 3 . The tumor-bearing mice were randomized into six groups (n = 3, each group).…”

“…Among them, near-infrared (NIR) light-triggered photodynamic theranostics, in which nanoparticles are used as photodynamic therapy (PDT) agents, have recently been receiving much attention due to deep penetration and simultaneous generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) upon the NIR light irradiation, leading to ablation of cancer cells as a result. Up to date, several nanocomposites including gold nanocomposites, [16][17][18][19] carbon nanostructures, 20 23 porphyrin-functionalized porous nanoparticles, 24 and upconversion nanoparticles (UCNPs) 25 as NIR light-triggered photodynamic theranostic nanoplatforms have shown efficacy in vitro and in vivo studies. Wherein, NIR light-triggered photodynamic theranostics based on lanthanide-doped UCNPs has been well investigated for biomedical uses due to their intrinsic anti-Stokes upconversion luminescent properties.…”

In Vivo Photoacoustic Imaging of Brain Injury and Rehabilitation by High‐Efficient Near‐Infrared Dye Labeled Mesenchymal Stem Cells with Enhanced Brain Barrier Permeability

“…It is a new emerging imaging technique that permits ample contrasts on account of the chromophore absorption 11. Recently, PAT has been widely used on both structural and functional imaging of tumor,12 microvessels,13 brain functions,14 vasculature related diseases,15 and other applications 16, 17. Due to these advantages, we employed fast PAT to monitor the damage region of the mouse brain and its recovery with both skull and scalp intact.…”

The True Complexity of Photothermal Therapy: A Brief Perspective

“…Carbon-based nanomaterials also represent a strong branch of research thanks to its structural versatility, allowing to create configurations with unique optical properties such as carbon nanotubes and nanographene oxide [1], among others [5]. In addition, there have been many attempts of alternative approaches by combining PTT with other techniques like drug delivery [3,6,7], photodynamic therapy [3,8], optoacoustic imaging [9,10] and immunotherapy [11] among others. Many of the aforementioned techniques have being tested in vivo, revealing promising results and a low toxicity profile.…”