Nanostars and nanoconstructs for detection, imaging, and therapy

摘要

A polymer-free synthesis method is provided for preparation of monodisperse nanostars. The nanostars can be used for treating and imaging cells in in vivo or ex vivo. The modes of treatment include use of a nanostar modified with a photo-activatable drug, which drug is activated by the photo-response of the nanostar to electromagnetic stimulation; use of a nanostar modified with a thermally-activatable drug, which drug is activated by a thermal response of the nanostar to electromagnetic stimulation; and the thermal response of the nanostar itself to electromagnetic stimulation, which can directly or indirectly cause the death of an undesirable cell.

主权项

1. A method of treating undesirable cells comprising:
contacting an undesirable cell with a plasmonics-active gold nanostar resulting from a process comprising: reducing aqueous gold (Au+3) to solid gold (Au) in acidic solution; and mixing a silver salt compound with a weak reducing agent into the solution under conditions such that plasmonics active gold nanostars are produced; and applying a single-photon or multi-photon excitation to the undesirable cells such that the undesirable cells are damaged by one or both of thermal energy from the single-photon or multi-photon excitation and thermal energy emitted as a result of excitation of the nanostar by the single-photon or multi-photon excitation.