Compact Plasmonic Blackbody for Cancer Theranosis in the Near-Infrared II Window
- Journal:
- ACS Nano
- Published:
- DOI:
- 10.1021/acsnano.7b08725
- Affiliations:
- 2
- Authors:
- 11
Research Highlight
Light-responsive nanoparticles help blast away deep tissue tumours
© KATERYNA KON/Science Photo Library/Getty
A new type of gold-bearing, light-responsive nanoparticle could offer a safe and effective way to destroy tumours deep in the body.
A team from Nanyang Technological University synthesized compact, gold nanostructures coated in a glue-like material that absorbs nearly all light from wavelengths across the ultraviolet, visible and near-infrared spectra.
The researchers injected the nanoparticles directly into the breast tumours of cancer-bearing mice before covering the tumour area with chicken breast tissue to mimic a deep cellular environment. They then blasted the buried tumours with near-infrared lasers. The light converted to heat with more than 80 per cent efficiency — and the cancer cells burned away.
The findings, reported in ACS Nano, highlight the potential of this nanomedicine for targeting hard-to-reach tumours.
References
- ACS Nano 12, 2643–2651 (2018). doi: 10.1021/acsnano.7b08725
Institutions | Authors | Share |
---|---|---|
Nanyang Technological University (NTU), Singapore | 0.95 | |
Zhejiang University (ZJU), China | 0.05 |