In situ real-time investigation of cancer cell photothermolysis mediated by excited gold nanorod surface plasmons.
The photothermolysis of living EMT-6 breast tumor cells triggered by gold nanorods (AuNRs) with two-photon irradiation was conducted in situ and under real-time observation. The morphology and plasma membrane permeability of the cells were key indicators to the phenomena. AuNRs with an aspect ratio of 3.92, and a longitudinal absorption peak at 800 nm were synthesized with a seed-mediated method. The nanorods surfaces were further modified with polystyrenesulfonate (PSS) for biocompatibility. The prepared nanorods displayed excellent two-photon photoluminescence imaging. In situ real-time results revealed cavities internal to the cells were created from thermal explosions triggered by AuNRs localized photothermal effect. The cavitation dynamic is energy dependent and responsible for the perforation or sudden rupture of the plasma membrane. The energy threshold for cell therapy depended significantly on the number of nanorods taken up per cell. For an ingested AuNR cluster quantity N approximately 10-30 per cell, it is found that energy fluences E larger-than 93 mJ/cm(2) led to effective cell destruction in the crumbled form within a very short period. As for a lower energy level E = 18 mJ/cm(2) with N approximately 60-100, a non-instant, but progressive cell deterioration, is observed.
Chen
Cheng-Lung
CL
Institute of Physics, Academia Sinica, Taipei, Taiwan, ROC. aabbss@phys.sinica.edu.tw
Kuo
Ling-Ru
LR
Chang
Ching-Lin
CL
Hwu
Yeu-Kuang
YK
Huang
Cheng-Kuang
CK
Lee
Shin-Yu
SY
Chen
Kowa
K
Lin
Su-Jien
SJ
Huang
Jing-Duan
JD
Chen
Yang-Yuan
YY
D000818:Animals; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D002470:Cell Survival; D003952:Diagnostic Imaging; D006046:Gold / Q000737:chemistry*; D007834:Lasers; D008027:Light; D049449:Luminescence; D051379:Mice; D036103:Nanotechnology / Q000379:methods*; D043942:Nanotubes / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000633:toxicity / Q000648:ultrastructure; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D017785:Photons; D020349:Surface Plasmon Resonance; D013499:Surface Properties; D013696:Temperature; D013997:Time Factors
D006046:Gold