Spiky Fe3O4@Au Supraparticles for Multimodal In Vivo Imaging

Nanomaterials with high biocompatibility and efficient photothermal conversion have drawn tremendous attention for tumor diagnosis and treatment. In this study, spiky Fe3O4@Au supraparticles (SPs) are used as phototherapy and multimodal imaging agents. The SPs show excellent photothermal and photodynamic therapeutic effects, with a photothermal conversion efficiency of 31%, and allow tumor-targeted imaging, including computed tomographic, photoacoustic, and magnetic resonance imaging. The SPs show excellent biocompatibility both in vitro and in vivo. Furthermore, because of their remarkable absorption at near-infrared region, the SPs obliterate a tumor under 808 nm irradiation. With their capacity for highly integrated multimodal imaging and multiple therapeutic functions, SPs are a promising agent for application to clinical practice.