Bifunctional Gold Nanoshells with a Superparamagnetic Iron Oxide-Silica Core Suitable for Both MR Imaging and Photothermal Therapy.
We describe the synthesis, characterization, and use of hybrid nanoparticles with a superparamagnetic iron oxide (SPIO) core and a gold nanoshell. These multifunctional nanoparticles, designated SPIO-Au nanoshells, displayed superparamagnetic characteristics and a significant absorbance in the near-infrared (NIR) region of the electromagnetic spectrum. In addition, they exhibited high transverse relaxivity,r2, and a larger2/r1ratio and therefore could be imaged by MRI to obtain T2-weighted images. Moreover, SPIO-Au nanoshells showed efficient photo-thermal effect when exposed to NIR light. The use of SPIO-Au nanoshells, with their combination of unique magnetic and optical properties, should enhance the efficacy of nanoshell-mediated photo-thermal therapy by making it possible to direct more nanoparticles to tumors through the application of external magnetic field and by permitting real-timein vivoMRI imaging of the distribution of the nanoparticles before, during, and after photo-thermal therapy.
Ji
Xiaojun
X
Department of Experimental Diagnostic Imaging, The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas 77030.
Shao
Ruping
R
Department of Experimental Diagnostic Imaging, The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas 77030.
Elliott
Andrew M
AM
Department of Imaging Physics, The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas 77030.
Stafford
R Jason
RJ
Department of Imaging Physics, The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas 77030.
Esparza-Coss
Emilio
E
Department of Imaging Physics, The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas 77030.
Bankson
James A
JA
Department of Imaging Physics, The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas 77030.
Liang
Gan
G
Department of Physics, Sam Houston State University, Huntsville, Texas 77341.
Luo
Zhi-Ping
Z
Microscopy and Imaging Center, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas 77843.
Park
Keeseong
K
Department of Physics, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas 78712.
Markert
John T
JT
Department of Physics, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas 78712.
Li
Chun
C
Department of Experimental Diagnostic Imaging, The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas 77030.