Advances in Nanotheranostics II

Abstract

Gold nanostructures can manipulate light at the nanoscale based on the optical phenomenon widely known as localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR). Upon light excitation, specifi c gold nanostructures are supposed to preferentially absorb or scatter light in the near-infrared (NIR) region, which enable them appli- cable as imaging and therapeutic agents. Furthermore, facile surface functionaliza- tion via Au-S bonding makes gold nanostructures as universal substrates to attach functional molecules, drug cargo, and targeting ligands. Together with their easy synthesis and non-toxicity, gold nanostructures have emerged as a greatly promis- ing platform in cancer diagnostics and treatment. This chapter summarizes the prog- ress made in cancer imaging and therapy with gold nanostructures (1) as therapeutic components for photothermal therapy, photodynamic therapy, chemotherapy, and their combination; (2) as probes for various imaging techniques including dark- fi eld, optical coherence tomography, two-photon luminescence, photoacoustic imaging, computed tomography, and surface-enhanced Raman scattering based imaging; and (3) as a theranostic platform for imaging-guided therapy.