Phospholipid micelle-based magneto-plasmonic nanoformulation for magnetic field-directed, imaging-guided photo-induced cancer therapy

We present a magnetoplasmonic nanoplatform combining gold nanorods (GNR) and iron-oxide nanoparticles within phospholipid-based polymeric nanomicelles (PGRFe). The gold nanorods exhibit plasmon resonance absorbance at near infrared wavelengths to enable photoacoustic imaging and photothermal therapy, while the Fe3O4 nanoparticles enable magnetophoretic control of the nanoformulation. The fabricated nanoformulation can be directed and concentrated by an external magnetic field, which provides enhancement of a photoacoustic signal. Application of an external field also leads to enhanced uptake of the magnetoplasmonic formulation by cancer cells in vitro. Under laser irradiation at the wavelength of the GNR absorption peak, the PGRFe formulation efficiently generates plasmonic nanobubbles within cancer cells, as visualized by confocal microscopy, causing cell destruction. The combined magnetic and plasmonic functionalities of the nanoplatform enable magnetic field-directed, imaging-guided, enhanced photo-induced cancer therapy.From the Clinical EditorIn this study, a nano-formulation of gold nanorods and iron oxide nanoparticles is presented using a phospholipid micelle-based delivery system for magnetic field-directed and imaging-guided photo-induced cancer therapy. The gold nanorods enable photoacoustic imaging and photothermal therapy, while the Fe3O4 nanoparticles enable magnetophoretic control of the formulation. This and similar systems could enable more precise and efficient cancer therapy, hopefully in the near future, after additional testing.

Graphical AbstractThe magnetoplasmonic nanoformulation (PGRFe), combining gold nanorods and iron oxide nanoparticles within phospholipid micelles, demonstrates controllability by the applied magnetic field and exhibits field-induced aggregation, providing both an enhanced photoacoustic tomography signal and enhanced cellular uptake in vitro. Irradiation of the PGRFe/magnetic field targeted cells with a 780 nm femtosecond pulsed laser results in photoinduced thermalization followed by plasmonic nanobubbles nucleation and expansion, causing cell destruction. The proposed approach holds potential for enhanced cancer therapy by leveraging the combined functionality of both nanomagnetics for field-directed targeting of malignant tissue, enhanced cellular uptake and intracellular aggregation, and plasmonics, for enhanced plasmonic photothermal therapy and photoacoustic tomography.Figure optionsDownload high-quality image (153 K)Download as PowerPoint slide