Immunotargeted Nanoshells for Integrated Cancer Imaging and Therapy

Christopher Loo,†‡ Amanda Lowery,†‡ Naomi Halas,§ Jennifer West,†‡ and Rebekah Drezek*†‡
Departments of Bioengineering and Electrical and Computer Engineering, Rice University, P.O. Box 1892, Houston, Texas 77251-1892
Nano Lett., 2005, 5 (4), pp 709–711
DOI: 10.1021/nl050127s
Publication Date (Web): March 22, 2005
Copyright © 2005 American Chemical Society
†

 These authors contributed equally to this work.

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‡

 Department of Bioengineering.

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§

 Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering.

,
*

 Corresponding author. E-mail:  drezek@rice.edu; phone (713) 348-3011; fax (713) 348-5877.

Abstract

Abstract Image

Nanoshells are a novel class of optically tunable nanoparticles that consist of a dielectric core surrounded by a thin gold shell. Based on the relative dimensions of the shell thickness and core radius, nanoshells may be designed to scatter and/or absorb light over a broad spectral range including the near-infrared (NIR), a wavelength region that provides maximal penetration of light through tissue. The ability to control both wavelength-dependent scattering and absorption of nanoshells offers the opportunity to design nanoshells which provide, in a single nanoparticle, both diagnostic and therapeutic capabilities. Here, we demonstrate a novel nanoshell-based all-optical platform technology for integrating cancer imaging and therapy applications. Immunotargeted nanoshells are engineered to both scatter light in the NIR enabling optical molecular cancer imaging and to absorb light, allowing selective destruction of targeted carcinoma cells through photothermal therapy. In a proof of principle experiment, dual imaging/therapy immunotargeted nanoshells are used to detect and destroy breast carcinoma cells that overexpress HER2, a clinically relevant cancer biomarker.

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History

  • Published In Issue April 13, 2005
  • Received January 20, 2005
    Revised Manuscript Received March 1, 2005

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