Understanding and advancement in gold nanoparticle targeted photothermal therapy of cancer

The present communication summarizes the importance, understanding and advancement in the photothermal therapy of cancer using gold nanoparticles. Photothermal therapy was used earlier as a single line therapy, but using a combination of photothermal therapy with other therapies like immunotherapy, chemotherapy, photodynamic therapy; efficient therapy management can be achieved. As it was discussed in many studies that gold nanoparticles are treated as idyllic photothermal transducers due to their structural dimensions, which enables them to strongly absorb near infrared light. Gold nanoparticles which are mediated for photothermal therapy can warn cancer cells to chemotherapy, regulate genes and immunotherapy by enhancing the cell permeability and intracellular delivery. The necrosis process and apoptosis depend on the power of laser and temperature within the cancerous tissues which are reached during irradiation. Cells death mechanism is also important because the cells which died through the process of necrosis can endorse secondary tumor growth while the cells which died through apoptosis may provoke the immune response to inhibit the development of secondary tumor growth. To decrease the in vivo barriers, gold nanostructures are again modified with targeting ligand and bio-responsive linker. The manuscript summarizes that the use of gold nanoparticles is capable of inhibiting the growth of cancerous cells by using photothermal therapy which has lesser adverse effects compared to other line therapies.

Automated summary

The use of gold nanoparticles in photothermal therapy for cancer treatment is highlighted in this communication, showing their potential in warning cancer cells to other therapies, modulating cellular permeability and delivery, and achieving effective therapy management.