Magnetic Targeting of Magneto-Plasmonic Nanoparticles and Their Effects on Temperature Profile of NIR Laser Irradiated to CT26 Tumor in BALB/C Mice

Photothermal therapy (PTT) is a promising method in the field of cancer hyperthermia. In this method, interaction between laser light and photosensitizer material, such as plasmonic nanoparticles, leads into a localized heating. Recent efforts in the area of PTT aim to exploit targeting strategies for preferential accumulation of plasmonic nanoparticles within the tumor.

To investigate the impact of magneto-plasmonic (Au@Fe2O3 ) nanoparticles on temperature profile of CT26 tumor, bearing mice were irradiated by NIR laser.

In this in vivo study, Au@Fe2O3  NPs were injected intraperitoneally to Balb/c mice bearing CT26 colorectal tumor. Immediately after injection, a magnet (magnetic field strength of 0.4 Tesla) was placed on the tumor site for 6 hours in order to concentrate nanoparticles inside the tumor. In the next step, the tumors were exposed with NIR laser source (808 nm; 2 W/cm2; 5 min).

Tumor temperature without magnetic targeting increased ~7 ± 0.9 °C after NIR irradiation, whereas the tumors in magnetic targeted group experienced a temperature rise of ~12 ± 1.4 °C.

It is concluded that Au@Fe2O3 nanoparticle is a good candidate for therapeutic nanostructure in cancer photothermal therapy.