Gold nanoshell/polysaccharide nanofilm for controlled laser-assisted tissue thermal ablation

Area of Science:

• Biomedical Engineering
• Materials Science
• Nanotechnology

Background:

• Unpredictable biodistribution of nanoparticles hinders precise photothermal ablation of cancerous lesions.
• Developing strategies for controlled particle concentration is crucial for effective and safe nanoparticle-assisted therapies.

Purpose of the Study:

• To fabricate and characterize a freestanding, ultrathin, mucoadhesive gold nanoshell/polysaccharide multilayer nanocomposite (thermonanofilm, TNF).
• To demonstrate the controlled photothermal ablation of tissues using TNFs irradiated with near-infrared (NIR) laser.
• To provide a new strategy for precise control of particle concentration in photothermalization.

Main Methods:

• Fabrication of TNFs using drop casting and spin-assisted layer-by-layer (LbL) assembly.
• In vitro evaluation of TNF-mediated thermal ablation of human neuroblastoma cancer cells.
• Ex vivo demonstration of localized tissue vaporization and carbonization on animal muscular tissue.

Main Results:

• Submicrometric thickness of TNFs ensures effective tissue adhesion.
• Demonstrated in vitro cancer cell ablation and ex vivo tissue vaporization.
• Achieved controlled local photothermalization with significant temperature increases (ΔT > 50°C) within a 1 mm span in seconds.

Conclusions:

• TNFs offer a precise and predictable method for local photothermal treatment of cancerous lesions.
• The developed steady-state model provides guidelines for TNF development and application.
• TNFs enhance safety and predictability compared to traditional laser surgery for thermal treatments.