Therapy effects of gold nanorods on the CNE-1 nasopharyngeal carcinoma cell line

Abstract

The use of nanocarriers to deliver drugs to tumor tissue is one of the most important strategies in cancer therapeutics. Recently, gold nanorods (GNRs) have begun to be used in cancer therapy because of their unique properties. The purpose of this study was to show the potential that GNRs have against human nasopharyngeal carcinoma CNE-1 cells, using near-infrared (NIR) laser light. Transmission electron microscopic and ultraviolet-visible spectroscopic investigations confrmed the effcient uptake of the GNRs by CNE-1 and human rhinal epithelia cells. The in vitro NIR photothermal therapy for the CNE-1 and rhinal epithelia cells was designed in three groups: (1) control, (2) laser alone, and (3) GNRs with laser. Fluorescence microscopy images indicated that, at some GNR concentrations and some intensities of NIR laser, GNRs with laser therapy could induce cell death for CNE-1 cells while keeping the rhinal epithelia cells healthy. Therefore, the results of this study suggest that using GNRs with NIR laser therapy can selectively destruct CNE-1 cells while having no effect on normal (rhinal epithelia) cells. Keywords: photothermal therapy, near-infrared laser, rhinal epithelia cells, cell uptake © 2012 Shao et al, publisher and licensee Dove Medical Press Ltd.