Author(s): Rio, Irina S. R. ; Rodrigues, Ana Rita O. ; Rodrigues, Carolina P. ; Almeida, B. G. ; Pires, A. ; Pereira, A. M. ; Araújo, J. P. ; Castanheira, Elisabete M. S. ; Coutinho, Paulo J. G.
Date: 2020
Persistent ID: https://hdl.handle.net/1822/64495
Origin: RepositóriUM - Universidade do Minho
Subject(s): magnetic; plasmonic nanoparticles; nickel ferrite; gold; magnetoliposomes; thermotherapy; Magnetic/plasmonic nanoparticles
Multifunctional nanosystems combining magnetic and plasmonic properties are a promising approach for cancer therapy, allowing magnetic guidance and a local temperature increase. This capability can provide a triggered drug release and synergistic cytotoxic effect in cancer cells. In this work, nickel ferrite/gold nanoparticles were developed, including nickel ferrite magnetic nanoparticles decorated with plasmonic gold nanoparticles and core/shell nanostructures (with a nickel ferrite core and a gold shell). These nanoparticles were covered with a surfactant/lipid bilayer, originating liposome-like structures with diameters below 160 nm. The heating capacity of these systems, upon excitation with light above 600 nm wavelength, was assessed through the emission quenching of rhodamine B located in the lipid layer. The developed nanosystems show promising results for future applications in thermotherapy.
