Gold nanocages co-assembled with Spinacia oleracea extract combined photothermal/photodynamic therapy in 4T1 breast cancer cell line

Photothermal therapy (PTT) and photodynamic therapy (PDT) have been emerging as potential alternatives to conventional cancer treatment modalities. Gold nanoparticles, owing to their surface plasmon resonance properties, have been promising in cancer phototherapies, and extracts from potent medicinal plants are commonly employed for the green synthesis of various nanoparticles. Some researchers have used photosensitizers like chlorophyll to promote reactive oxygen species generation. In this research, the photothermal ability of gold and the photon-absorbing capability of chlorophyll derived from Spinacia oleracea (S. oleracea) are combined to achieve the optimum results. Herein, we have synthesized the gold nanocages(AuNCs) co-assembled with S. oleracea extract (SPAuNCs; 70 +/- 10 nm) to be employed as a PTT and PDT agent to treat triple-negative breast cancer. This study found that SPAuNCs are promising PTT and PDT agents against breast cancer cell line.