Gold nanoparticle-mediated photothermal therapy: current status and future perspective

Area of Science:

• Biomedical Engineering
• Nanotechnology
• Oncology

Background:

• Gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) are potent photothermal agents for cancer therapy, leveraging surface plasmon oscillations for localized heating.
• Their strong absorption, efficient heat conversion, photostability, low toxicity, and tunable surface chemistry drive interest in photothermal therapy (PTT).

Purpose of the Study:

• To review current research on near-infrared-active gold nanostructures for photothermal cancer therapy.
• To discuss the potential and challenges of gold nanoparticles in clinical PTT applications.

Main Methods:

• Review of current research findings on various gold nanoparticle systems (nanoshell, nanorod, nanocage, nanostar, nanopopcorn, nanoparticle assemblies).
• Analysis of near-infrared-active AuNPs for photothermal efficacy and target selectivity.

Main Results:

• Engineered AuNPs demonstrate tunable properties for enhanced near-infrared photothermal efficacy and target selectivity.
• Various AuNP architectures show potential for deep tissue-penetrating PTT with reduced side effects.

Conclusions:

• Gold nanoparticles show significant potential for cancer photothermal therapy.
• Clinical translation requires addressing hurdles such as long-term toxicity, biodistribution control, and efficient clearance mechanisms.