Document Type

Article

Publication Date

11-2013

Publication Source

Advances in Nanoparticles

Abstract

Investigations into the use of gold nanorods (Au-NRs) for biological applications are growing exponentially due to their distinctive physicochemical properties, which make them advantageous over other nanomaterials. Au-NRs are particularly renowned for their plasmonic characteristics, which generate a robust photothermal response when stimulated with light at a wavelength matching their surface plasmon resonance. Numerous reports have explored this nanophotonic phenomenon for temperature driven therapies; however, to date there is a significant knowledge gap pertaining to the kinetic heating profile of Au-NRs within a controlled physiological setting. In the present study, the impact of environmental composition on Au-NR behavior and degree of laser actuated thermal production was assessed. Through acellular evaluation, we identified a loss of photothermal efficiency in biologically relevant fluids and linked this response to excessive particle aggregation and an altered Au-NR spectral profile. Furthermore, to evaluate the potential impact of solution composition on the efficacy of nano-based biological applications, the degree of targeted cellular destruction was ascertained in vitro and was found to be susceptible to fluid-dependent modifications. In summary, this study identified a diminution of Au-NR nanophotonic response in artificial physiological fluids that translated to a loss of application efficiency, pinpointing a critical concern that must be considered to advance in vivo, nano-based bio-applications.

Inclusive pages

336-343

ISBN/ISSN

2169-0510

Document Version

Published Version

Comments

This is an open-access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC-BY), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited. Permission documentation is on file.

Publisher

Scientific Research Publishing

Volume

2

Peer Reviewed

yes

Issue

4

Link to published version

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