Related Experiment Video
Updated: Mar 21, 2026
Plasmonic Photothermal Cancer Therapy: Nanoparticle-embedded Tumor-tissue-mimicking Phantoms for Visualizing Photothermal Temperature Distribution
Published on: May 9, 2025
Photothermal Ablation of Cancer Cells Using Folate-Coated Gold/ Graphene Oxide Composite
Nicolò Mauro1, Anna Li Volsi1, Cinzia Scialabba1
1Laboratory of Biocompatible Polymers, Department of Scienze e Tecnologie Biologiche, Chimiche e Farmaceutiche (STEBICEF), University of Palermo, Via Archirafi, 32 90123 Palermo, Italy.
Objective:
A new tumor targeted polymer-coated gold/graphene hybrid has been developed for achieving simultaneously thermoablation and chemoterapy of folate receptor-positive cancer cells.
Methods:
The gold/graphene hybrid was prepared by depositing gold nanospheres onto graphene oxide and coating it with an inulin-folate conjugate. Paclitaxel was loaded by sonication. The hybrid was characterized by UV-Vis spectroscopy, DSC analysis and SEM microscopy. The cytotoxicity, thermoablation and anticancer activity were evaluated in vitro on MCF-7 and 16 HBE.
Results:
In vitro tests showed that the paclitaxel-loaded hybrid improved the effectiveness of the drug especially after photothermal treatments.
Conclusion:
On the whole, while gold/graphene composite provided an excellent time-dependent photothermal effect, the loading of paclitaxel allowed a suitable chemotherapy, thus killing cancer cells both via a selective laser beam thermoablation and hyperthermia-triggered chemotherapy.
More Related Videos
09:23Inducing Targeted Mild Hyperthermia in Murine Tumor Models through Photothermal Conversion of Near-infrared Light by Intratumoral Gold Nanorods
Published on: October 10, 2025
10:51Protocols for Assessing Radiofrequency Interactions with Gold Nanoparticles and Biological Systems for Non-invasive Hyperthermia Cancer Therapy
Published on: August 28, 2013