title: Theranostic Au cubic nano-aggregates as potential photoacoustic contrast and photothermal therapeutic agents.
abstract: Multifunctional nanostructures combining diagnosis and therapy modalities into one entity have drawn much attention in the biomedical applications. Herein, we report a simple and cost-effective method to synthesize a novel cubic Au nano-aggregates structure with edge-length of 80 nm (Au-80 CNAs), which display strong near-infrared (NIR) absorption, excellent water-solubility, good photothermal stability, and high biocompatibility. Under 808 nm laser irradiation for 5 min, the temperature of the solution containing Au-80 CNAs (100 μg/mL) increased by ~38 °C. The in vitro and in vivo studies demonstrated that Au-80 CNAs could act as both photothermal therapeutic (PTT) agents and photoacoustic imaging (PAI) contrast agents, indicating that the only one nano-entity of Au-80 CNAs shows great potentials for theranostic applications. Moreover, this facile and cost-effective synthetic method provides a new strategy to prepare stable Au nanomaterials with excellent optical properties for biomedical applications.
authors.affiliation: 1. State Key Laboratory of Physical Chemistry of Solid Surfaces, The MOE Key Laboratory of Spectrochemical Analysis & Instrumentation, The Key Laboratory for Chemical Biology of Fujian Province, and Department of Chemical Biology, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361005, China.
authors.forename: Juan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hu
authors.affiliation: 1. State Key Laboratory of Physical Chemistry of Solid Surfaces, The MOE Key Laboratory of Spectrochemical Analysis & Instrumentation, The Key Laboratory for Chemical Biology of Fujian Province, and Department of Chemical Biology, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361005, China.
authors.forename: Xianglong
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Zhu
authors.affiliation: 2. Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory of Chronic Liver Disease and Hepatocellular Carcinoma, Zhongshan Hospital, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361004, China.
authors.forename: Hui
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: 1. State Key Laboratory of Physical Chemistry of Solid Surfaces, The MOE Key Laboratory of Spectrochemical Analysis & Instrumentation, The Key Laboratory for Chemical Biology of Fujian Province, and Department of Chemical Biology, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361005, China.
authors.forename: Zhenghuan
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.affiliation: 2. Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory of Chronic Liver Disease and Hepatocellular Carcinoma, Zhongshan Hospital, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361004, China.
authors.forename: Xiaoqin
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Chi
authors.affiliation: 1. State Key Laboratory of Physical Chemistry of Solid Surfaces, The MOE Key Laboratory of Spectrochemical Analysis & Instrumentation, The Key Laboratory for Chemical Biology of Fujian Province, and Department of Chemical Biology, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361005, China.
authors.forename: Guoming
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.affiliation: 1. State Key Laboratory of Physical Chemistry of Solid Surfaces, The MOE Key Laboratory of Spectrochemical Analysis & Instrumentation, The Key Laboratory for Chemical Biology of Fujian Province, and Department of Chemical Biology, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361005, China.
authors.forename: Dengtong
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.affiliation: 3. Center for Molecular Imaging and Translational Medicine, School of Public Health, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361102, China.
authors.forename: Gang
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: 2. Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory of Chronic Liver Disease and Hepatocellular Carcinoma, Zhongshan Hospital, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361004, China.
authors.forename: Xiaomin
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: 1. State Key Laboratory of Physical Chemistry of Solid Surfaces, The MOE Key Laboratory of Spectrochemical Analysis & Instrumentation, The Key Laboratory for Chemical Biology of Fujian Province, and Department of Chemical Biology, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361005, China. ; 3. Center for Molecular Imaging and Translational Medicine, School of Public Health, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361102, China.
authors.forename: Jinhao
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Gao
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D055598:Chemical Phenomena; D003287:Contrast Media / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D006046:Gold / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D051379:Mice; D049329:Nanostructures / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D061848:Optical Imaging / Q000379:methods; D010789:Phototherapy / Q000379:methods*
chemical_list: D003287:Contrast Media; D006046:Gold
keywords: Au cubic nano-aggregates; near-infrared absorption; photoacoustic imaging.; photothermal therapy; theranostics