Nitric oxide-activatable gold nanoparticles for specific targeting and photo-thermal ablation of macrophages

Abstract

In this study, we designed NO-activatable gold nanoparticles (NAM-AuNPs) for specific targeting and photo-thermal ablation of macrophages. The gold nanoparticles showed aggregation behavior in response to NO solution as well as endogenous NO secreted from activated macrophages. Following NIR irradiation, significant cytotoxicity was observed in activated RAW 264.7 cells treated with NAM-AuNPs.