Gold Nanorods Embedded in Mesoporous Silica for Photothermal Therapy and SERS Monitoring in T47D Breast Cancer Cells
Por:
Armenta-Gamez A., Pedroza-Montero A., Tapia-Villasenor A., Silva-Campa E., Loro H., Melendrez R., Aguila S.A., Santacruz-Gomez K.
Publicada:
1 ene 2026
Resumen:
© 2026 by the authors.Background: The development of plasmonic photothermal therapy (PPTT) to trigger cancer cells is often hindered by uncontrolled overheating and the lack of real-time feedback. Methods: In this study, we report the synthesis of gold nanorod-embedded mesoporous silica nanoshells (AuNR@Si) as a multifunctional theranostic platform designed for controlled hyperthermia and surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) monitoring. Using a layer-by-layer templating strategy, AuNRs were successfully obtained within a hollow silica architecture. Results: While AuNRs alone exhibited rapid photothermal spikes reaching 64 °C, the AuNR@Si platform moderated the photothermal response, maintaining a stable therapeutic window (41–45 °C). In vitro assays using T47D breast cancer cells demonstrated a 33% reduction in viability following irradiation. Furthermore, the structural stability of the AuNR@Si platform enabled SERS monitoring of cellular damage, identifying specific biochemical fingerprints of protein denaturation, cytochrome c release and DNA fragmentation. Conclusions: These results suggest that AuNR@Si nanoshells provide a safer, regulated approach to photothermal ablation with the added benefit of molecular detection, demonstrating proof-of-concept theranostic functionality in a luminal breast cancer model.
Filiaciones:
PhD Program in Nanoscience, Center for Scientific Research and Higher Education of Ensenada (CICESE), Carretera Ensenada-Tijuana No. 3918, Zona Playitas, Ensenada, Baja California, 22860, Mexico
Physics Department, University of Sonora, Blvd Luis Encinas y Rosales S/N, Col. CentroSonora, Hermosillo, 83000, Mexico
PhD Program in Nanotechnology, Physicas Deparment, University of Sonora, Blvd Luis Encinas y Rosales S/N, Col. CentroSonora, Hermosillo, 83000, Mexico
Department of Physics Research, University of Sonora, Blvd Luis Encinas y Rosales S/NCol. CentroSonora, Hermosillo, 83000, Mexico
Department of Physics, Faculty of Sciences, National University of Engineering, Tupac Amaru 210, Rimac, Lima, 100190, Peru
Center for Nanosciences and Nanotechnology, National Autonomous University of Mexico, Ensenada, Baja California, 22860, Mexico
Green Submitted, gold
|