heated to 40C demonstrated some photodynamic effect, with approximately 40% of cisplatin released over the course of an hour. Those which had not been treated with laser light or heat (control) showed virtually no release of cis-platin.
This study has shown the potential for gold/gold-sulfide nanoparticles as drug delivery systems, due to the effective release of cis-platin under NIR light, however this study was conducted entirely in vitro and so further testing in vivo would be suggested in order to fully predict how effectively cisplatin can be delivered this way, inside the body.
The Fe3O4-polymer-gold shell nanoparticles proposed by Wang et al have the potential to be applied in both the diagnosis and treatment of cancer tumours, however no physical studies were carried out involving such an application, and so there is a disadvantage that any application suggested by this literature is entirely speculative.
MRI is a method of diagnostic imaging, with the pictures produced by the process being either T1 weighted, T2 weighted, or proton density weighted, and tumours are visualised as dark areas in T1 weighted images.33 Metal oxide nanoparticles, such as the Fe3O4-polymer-gold shell nanoparticles, can act as a contrasting agent in MRI, thus enhancing the ability to see areas of abnormality in the images produced.34
The fact that the nanoparticles possess both magnetism and NIR absorption makes them especially versatile, as their magnetism would allow application in imaging techniques in MRI and to be moved to the specific region of a tumour via the control of a magnetic field, whilst their NIR absorption would allow application in photothermal therapy of tumours, much like the nanostructures discussed previously.10
The nanoparticles’ theoretical ability to be used simultaneously in both diagnostics and treatment presents a number of advantages, such as quicker, efficient treatment at almost the same time as the diagnosis, and less wastage as it is the same material used in both methods. However, it is important to remember tha
