BIBLIOS

Document type
Journal articles

Document subtype
Full paper

Title
Rational Approach to Design Gold Nanoparticles for Photothermal Therapy: the effect of gold salt on physico-chemical, optical and biological properties

Participants in the publication
Tânia Ferreira-Gonçalves (Author)
Daniela Nunes (Author)
Elvira Fortunato (Author)
Rodrigo Martins (Author)
António P. de Almeida (Author)
Lina Carvalho (Author)
David Ferreira (Author)
José Catarino (Author)
Pedro Faísca (Author)
Hugo A. Ferreira (Author)
M. Manuela Gaspar (Author)
João M.P. Coelho (Author)
Dep. Física
IBEB
Catarina Pinto Reis (Author)

Summary
Among the unique characteristics associated to gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) in biomedicine, their ability to convert light energy into heat opens ventures for improved cancer therapeutic options, such as photothermal therapy (PTT). PTT relies on the local hyperthermia of tumor cells upon irradiation with light beams, and the association of AuNPs with radiation within the near infrared (NIR) range constitutes an advantageous strategy to potentially improve PTT efficacy. Herein, it was explored the effect of the gold salt on the AuNPs’ physicochemical and optical properties. Mostly spherical-like negatively charged AuNPs with variable sizes and absorbance spectra were obtained. In addition, photothermal features were assessed using in vitro phantom models. The best formulation showed the ability to increase their temperature in aqueous solution up to 19°C when irradiated with a NIR laser for 20 min. Moreover, scanning transmission electron microscopy confirmed the rearrangement of the gold atoms in a face-centered cubic structure, which further allowed to calculate the photothermal conversion efficiency upon combination of theoretical and experimental data. AuNPs also showed local retention after being locally administered in in vivo models. These last results obtained by computerized tomography allow to consider these AuNPs as promising elements for a PTT system. Moreover, AuNPs showed high potential for PTT by resulting in in vitro cancer cells’ viability reductions superior to 70 % once combine with 5 min of NIR irradiation.


Where published
International Journal of Pharmaceutics

Publication Identifiers
ISSN - 0378-5173

Publisher
Elsevier BV


Document Identifiers
DOI - https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijpharm.2023.123659
URL - http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ijpharm.2023.123659

Rankings
SCIMAGO Q1 (2022) - 0.91 - Pharmaceutical Science
SCOPUS Q1 (2020) - 8.6 - Pharmaceutical Science
Web Of Science Q1 (2021) - 6.51 - PHARMACOLOGY & PHARMACY - SCIE