Immunotargeted Nanoshells for Integrated Cancer Imaging and Therapy

TLDR

Nanoshells are optically tunable nanoparticles with a dielectric core and gold shell that can be engineered to scatter or absorb near‑infrared light, enabling combined diagnostic imaging and therapeutic functions. The study demonstrates a nanoshell‑based all‑optical platform that integrates cancer imaging and therapy. Immunotargeted nanoshells are engineered to scatter NIR light for optical molecular imaging and to absorb light for selective photothermal destruction of HER2‑overexpressing carcinoma cells. In a proof‑of‑principle experiment, these dual‑function nanoshells detected and destroyed HER2‑positive breast carcinoma cells.

Abstract

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.