title: Gold nanoprisms for photothermal cell ablation in vivo.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To develop new methodologies for selective cell ablation in a temporally and spatially precise fashion in model organisms.
  
  
  METHODS
  living polyps (Hydra vulgaris) treated with gold nanoprisms were near-infrared (NIR) irradiated and the photothermal effects evaluated at whole-animal, cellular and molecular levels.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Nanoprisms showed good efficiency of internalization in living specimens, with no sign of toxicity; under NIR irradiation they induced cell death and the overexpression of the hsp70 gene.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  gold nanoprisms could be employed as efficient heat mediators in model organisms, and NIR-triggered cell ablation may represent a new advanced tool to study cell function. Solving bioethical and economical issues, invertebrates may provide alternative models bridging the gap between cell research and preclinical studies of photothermal therapy.
authors.affiliation: Istituto di Cibernetica 'E.Caianiello', Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, Via Campi Flegrei, 34, 80078, Pozzuoli, Italy.
authors.forename: Alfredo
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ambrosone
authors.forename: Pablo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: del Pino
authors.forename: Valentina
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Marchesano
authors.forename: Wolfgang J
authors.initials: WJ
authors.lastname: Parak
authors.forename: Jesus M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: de la Fuente
authors.forename: Claudia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Tortiglione
mesh_terms: D055011:Ablation Techniques; D000818:Animals; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D006046:Gold / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D018840:HSP70 Heat-Shock Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis; D006801:Humans; D006829:Hydra / Q000187:drug effects*; D006979:Hyperthermia, Induced; D053768:Metal Nanoparticles / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects
chemical_list: D018840:HSP70 Heat-Shock Proteins; D006046:Gold
keywords: Hydra vulgaris; gold nanoparticles; hyperthermia; model organism; near-infrared light; photothermal cell ablation