Cancer Cell Internalization of Gold Nanostars Impacts Their Photothermal Efficiency In Vitro and In Vivo: Toward a Plasmonic Thermal Fingerprint in Tumoral Environment. Issue 9 (15th March 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Espinosa, Ana; Silva, Amanda K. A.; Sánchez‐Iglesias, Ana; Grzelczak, Marek; Péchoux, Christine; Desboeufs, Karine; Liz‐Marzán, Luis M.; Wilhelm, Claire
• Is Part Of: Advanced healthcare materials. Volume 5:Issue 9(2016)
• Page Start: 1040
• Page End: 1048
• Publication Date: 2016-03-15
• Subjects: gold nanostars -- heating efficiency -- in situ measurements -- nanoparticle cell internalization -- photothermal therapy; Biomedical materials -- Periodicals; 610.28
• DOI: 10.1002/adhm.201501035
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2192-2640

Abstract

Abstract : Gold nanoparticles are prime candidates for cancer thermotherapy. However, while the ultimate target for nanoparticle‐mediated photothermal therapy is the cancer cell, heating performance has not previously been evaluated in the tumoral environment. A systematic investigation of gold nanostar heat‐generating efficiency in situ is presented: not only in cancer cells in vitro but also after intratumoral injection in vivo. It is demonstrated that (i) in aqueous dispersion, heat generation is governed by particle size and exciting laser wavelength; (ii) in cancer cells in vitro, heat generation is still very efficient, but irrespective of both particle size and laser wavelength; and (iii) heat generation by nanostars injected into tumors in vivo evolves with time, as the nanostars are trafficked from the extracellular matrix into endosomes. The plasmonic heating response thus serves as a signature of nanoparticle internalization in cells, bringing the ultimate goal of nanoparticle‐mediated photothermal therapy a step closer. Abstract : Heat‐generating efficiency of plasmonic nanoparticles is monitored in situ in environments of increasing biological complexity, from aqueous dispersion to cancer cells in vitro and solid tumors in vivo. Thanks to a subset of gold nanostars ranging from 25 to 150 nm, and investigated at three laser excitation wavelengths, the impact of cancer cell internalization on the thermal plasmonic signature is demonstrated.