Development of functional gold nanorods for bioimaging and photothermal therapy

Gold nanorods have strong surface plasmon band at near-infrared light region, and are used as a photothermal converter. Since the near-infrared light penetrates into tissues deeply, it has been expected as a contrast agent for near infrared light bioimaging, a photosensitizer for photothermal therapy, and functional device for drug delivery system responding to near-infrared light irradiation. In this study, the surface plasmon bands of intravenously injected gold nanorods were monitored in the mouse abdomen using a spectrophotometer equipped with an integrating sphere, then we determined pharmacokinetics parameters of the gold nanorods after intravenous injection. Next, the PEG-modified gold nanorods were directly injected into subcutaneous tumors in mice, then, near-infrared pulsed laser light was irradiated the tumors. Significant tumor damage and suppression of the tumor growth was observed. We constructed targeted delivery system of the gold nanorods by modifying with a thermo-responsive polymer and a peptide responding to a protease activity. These modified gold nanorods are expected as functional nanodevices for photothermal therapy and drug delivery system.