Gold Nanorods Mediate Tumor Cell Death by Compromising Membrane Integrity

Abstract

Folate-conjugated gold nanorods targeted to tumor cell surfaces produced severe membrane damage upon near-infrared irradiation. Photoinduced injury to the plasma membrane resulted in a rapid increase in intracellular calcium (shown in green) with subsequent disruption of the actin network, featured prominently by the formation of membrane blebs. Supporting information for this article is available on the WWW under http://www.wiley-vch.de/contents/jc_2089/2007/c1974_s.html or from the author. Please note: The publisher is not responsible for the content or functionality of any supporting information supplied by the authors. Any queries (other than missing content) should be directed to the corresponding author for the article.