Size-dependent theoretical and experimental photothermal conversion efficiency of spherical gold nanoparticles

Introduction: Due to their biocompatible and plasmonic properties, gold nanoparticles (Au NPs) are good can-didates to be photosensitizers in photothermal cancer therapy (PTT). Materials and methods: In this paper, the dependence of the NIR-light-to-heat energy on Au NPs size was investigated. Moreover, to determine the photosensitizing properties of gold nanoparticles, PTT was conducted on two colon cell lines: SW480 and SW620 by irradiating them with two lasers having different wavelengths. Results: Transmission electron microscopy showed that the respective sizes of Au NPs were 10 nm, 12 nm and 16 nm. Moreover, local as well as global structural measurements showed that all synthesized Au NPs were crys-talline and UV-Vis spectroscopy revealed that with increasing nanoparticles size the position of the surface Plasmon resonance (SPR) peaks is shifted to higher wavelengths. Decrease of cells viability was observed, when they were cultured with Au NPs and irradiated by 650 nm and 808 nm lasers. Moreover, FTIR and Raman spectra of cells, showed structural changes in DNA, phospholipids, proteins and cholesterol caused by the addition of nanoparticles and laser irradiation. The chemical changes were more pronounced in the cells cultured with Au NPs and irradiated by 650 nm lasers and these changes were dependent on the nanoparticle size. Moreover, the viability of cells investigated by the MTS assay showed, that the percentage of dead cells (similar to 40%) is the highest for cells cultured with 8 nm Au NPs and irradiated by the 650 nm laser. The photothermal conversion efficiency calculated from the experimental results showed a decrease of this parameter from 70% to 55% and from 61% to 48% with increasing particle size, for 650 nm and 808 nm lasers, respectively. Conclusions: The obtained results showed that the photothermal conversion efficiency of Au NPs is size-tunable, and can be correlated with the absorption/extinction ratios calculated by the Mie theory.

Automated summary

This study found that the size of gold nanoparticles affects their photothermal conversion efficiency, which can be correlated with the absorption/extinction ratios calculated by the Mie theory. Moreover, it revealed the photosensitizing properties of gold nanoparticles in photothermal cancer therapy and found that nanoparticle size affects cell death and changes in DNA, phospholipids, proteins, and cholesterol structures.