title: Multifunctional hybrid nanopatches of graphene oxide and gold nanostars for ultraefficient photothermal cancer therapy.
abstract: Multifunctional hybrid nanomaterials with enhanced therapeutic efficiency at physiologically safe dosages for externally triggered, image-guided therapy are highly attractive for nanomedicine. Here, we demonstrate a novel class of multifunctional hybrid nanopatches comprised of graphene oxide (GO) and gold nanostars for enhanced photothermal effect and image-guided therapy. The hybrid nanopatches with tunable localized surface plasmon resonance into the near-infrared therapeutic window (650-900 nm) were realized using a biofriendly method that obviates the need for toxic shape-directing agents. Internalization of the intact nanopatches into epithelial breast cancer cells was confirmed by Raman imaging, transmission electron microscopy, and inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. It appears that the amphipathic nature and the large surface area of the graphene oxide enable it to serve as a soft, flexible, and biocompatible intracellular carrier for the in situ grown plasmonic nanostructures and provide long-term biocompatibility with extremely low cytotoxicity. Apart from a remarkably improved photothermal effect compared to that of either of the components at very low dosages of the hybrids (10 μg/mL GO) and using a low laser power (0.75 W cm(-2)), the hybrid nanopatches exhibit strong Raman scattering, making them excellent candidates for bioimaging, diagnostics, and image-guided therapy applications.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Materials Science and Engineering, Department of Mechanical Engineering and Materials Science, Washington University in St. Louis , 1 Brookings Drive, St. Louis, Missouri 63130, United States.
authors.forename: Saide Z
authors.initials: SZ
authors.lastname: Nergiz
authors.forename: Naveen
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Gandra
authors.forename: Sirimuvva
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Tadepalli
authors.forename: Srikanth
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Singamaneni
mesh_terms: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D006046:Gold / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000494:pharmacology; D006108:Graphite / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000494:pharmacology; D006801:Humans; D042541:Intracellular Space / Q000378:metabolism; D053768:Metal Nanoparticles / Q000737:chemistry*; D036103:Nanotechnology; D010087:Oxides / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000494:pharmacology; D010789:Phototherapy; D013059:Spectrum Analysis, Raman
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D010087:Oxides; D006046:Gold; D006108:Graphite
keywords: Raman imaging; gold nanostars; graphene oxide; photothermal therapy; surface-enhanced Raman scattering