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Self-assembling nanoclusters in living systems: application for integrated photothermal nanodiagnostics and
Vladimir P Zharov1, Jin-Woo Kim, David T Curiel
1Philips Classic Laser Laboratories, the Arkansas Cancer Research Center, the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, Arkansas, USA. zharovvladimirp@uams.edu
Abstract:
Nanotechnologies represent an unprecedented recent advance that may revolutionize many areas of medicine and biology, including cancer diagnostics and treatment. Nanoparticle-based technologies have demonstrated especially high potential for medical purposes, ranging from diagnosing diseases to providing novel therapies. However, to be clinically relevant, the existing nanoparticle-based technologies must overcome several challenges, including selective nanoparticle delivery, potential cytotoxicity, imaging of nanoparticles, and real-time assessment of their therapeutic efficacy. This review addresses these issues by summarizing the recent advances in medical diagnostics and therapy with a focus on the self-assembly of gold nanoparticles into nanoclusters in live cells, in combination with their detection using photothermal (PT) techniques.
