Gold nanoshells are being researched for use in photothermal cancer therapy. They are synthesized using methods such as coating silica-liposomes with gold. When exposed to near-infrared light, gold nanoshells heat up and destroy cancer cells in vitro. However, challenges remain in making them efficiently and safely for human use, which requires further research and FDA approval before clinical trials can begin.

1. Gold Nanoshells
Enhanced Cancer
Photothermal therapy
Presented by :Rozana Aboalkhair

2. Objective
To enhance the limited knowledge about a
new generation of optimized gold
nanoshells-assisted photothermal therapy
.
Explore science behind gold nanoshells.

3. Contents
 Introduction
 Photothermal therapy
 Gold nanoshells
 Synthesis
Advantages
Challenges
 Experiment
 Conclusion

4. Introduction
 Cancer is the third leading cause of death (after heart disease and
stroke) in developed countries and the second leading cause of
death (after heart disease) in the United States .
 Nanotechnology offers exciting options for the site-selective
delivery of current treatment to cancers cells.
 Most studies of gold nanoshells have used photothermal therapy for
the destruction of cancer cells or tumor tissue, which may be
potentially useful in the clinical setting.
Agrawal, A., Huang, S., Lin, A. W. H., Barton, J. K., Drezek, R. A., Pfefer, T. J., & Lee, M. H. (2006). Quantitative
evaluation of optical coherence tomography signal enhancement with gold nanoshells. Journal of biomedical optics,
11(4), 041121-041121.

5. Photothermal therapy
 Is a therapeutic strategy in which photon energy is converted into
heat to damage and destroy cancer cells
 This therapy uses a conductive nanomaterial, either gold
nanoparticles, gold nanoshells, or carbon nanotubes.
 The gold nanoparticles are verified as nontoxic.
Huang, X., El-Sayed, I. H., Qian, W., & El-Sayed, M. A. (2006). Cancer cell imaging and photothermal therapy in the
near-infrared region by using gold nanorods. Journal of the American Chemical Society, 128(6), 2115-2120.

6. Schematic Of Photothermal Therapy
with gold nanoshells
Huang, X., El-Sayed, I. H., Qian, W., & El-Sayed, M. A. (2006). Cancer cell imaging and photothermal therapy in the near-
infrared region by using gold nanorods. Journal of the American Chemical Society, 128(6), 2115-2120.

7. Gold Nanoshells
MATERIAL & METHODS
AU CHLORIDE TETRAHYDRATE (HAUCL4),
SOYBEAN LECITHIN
CHOLESTEROL
AMINOPROPYLTRITHOXY SILANE (KH-550)
ETHANOL
NAOH
DISTILLED WATER
DOX
SMMC-7721
Wu, C., Yu, C., & Chu, M. (2010). A gold nanoshell with a silica inner shell synthesized using liposome templates for
doxorubicin loading and near-infrared photothermal therapy. International journal of nanomedicine, 6, 807-813.
Chicago

8. Silica-coated Liposome
Nanocomposites Synthesis
• Soybean lecithin (120 mg) and cholesterol (8 mg) were dissolved in chloroform (1
mL)
• Distilled water (8 mL) was added to the fask to hydrate the dried lipid film
• The liposome dispersion was extruded through polycarbonate membrane filters .
• The liposome suspension was diluted with distilled water was then NaOH was
added into the diluted liposome suspension and gently stirred at room temperature
• 24 hours later, the stirring was stopped and the silica-coated liposome
suspension was then stored at 4°C in a refrigerator.
Wu, C., Yu, C., & Chu, M. (2010). A gold nanoshell with a silica inner shell synthesized using liposome templates for
doxorubicin loading and near-infrared photothermal therapy. International journal of nanomedicine, 6, 807-813.
Chicago

9. Gold Nanoshells Synthesis
• the distilled-water-diluted KH550 (20 µL, 6 mol/L) was mixed
with the liposome/SiO2 suspension (200 µL) for about 2 hours.
• HAuCl4 aqueous solution and NH2OH aqueous solution were
added.
• After the addition of NH2OH was finished, the reaction solution
was continuously stirred for 10 minutes
• The suspension was precipitated via centrifugation. The precipitate
was washed with water and then freeze-dried for 72 hours.
Wu, C., Yu, C., & Chu, M. (2010). A gold nanoshell with a silica inner shell synthesized using liposome templates for
doxorubicin loading and near-infrared photothermal therapy. International journal of nanomedicine, 6, 807-813.
Chicago

10. Fabrication of DOX-loaded
liposome/siO2/Au
• The liposome/SiO2/Au precipitate (5 mg) was added to
DOX aqueous solution and incubated at room
temperature.
• 12 hours later, the suspension was precipitated via
centrifugation and washed once with water to remove the
free DOX.
• The washed precipitate was then resuspended in a serum-
free RPMI 1640 medium before cell experimentation.
Wu, C., Yu, C., & Chu, M. (2010). A gold nanoshell with a silica inner shell synthesized using liposome templates for
doxorubicin loading and near-infrared photothermal therapy. International journal of nanomedicine, 6, 807-813.
Chicago

11. Schematic of the formation of a DOX-
loaded gold nanoshells
Wu, C., Yu, C., & Chu, M. (2010). A gold nanoshell with a silica inner shell synthesized using liposome templates for
doxorubicin loading and near-infrared photothermal therapy. International journal of nanomedicine, 6, 807-813.
Chicago

12. Gold Nanoshells.
RESULT
Gold nanoshells can destroy cancer cells
(SMMC-7721)
 Cells incubated with gold nanoshells
can be killed by NIR light (dark area).
Gross pathology after in vivo treatment
with nanoshells and NIR laser revealed
hemorrhaging and loss of tissue
birefringence beneath the apical tissue
surface.
 Hematoxylin/eosin (H&E) staining
within the same plane confirms tissue
damage within the area that contains
nanoshells.
Hirsch LR, Stafford RJ, Bankson JA, et al. 2003b. Nanoshell-mediated near-infrared thermal therapy
of tumors under magnetic resonance guidance. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A, 100:13549–5

13. Gold Nanoshells
They are very simple to make and prepare.
Small (just over 100nm in diameter!)
Gold is biologically inert
Different from standard nanoparticles
Dimensions of the shell can be changed
Stronger interactions with light waves
Erickson, T. A., & Tunnell, J. W. (2009). Gold nanoshells in biomedical applications. Nanotechnologies for the Life
Sciences.

14. Gold Nanoshells
 By creating very small gold nanoshells, not only can these absorb
more light but also reduce the amount of gold used and escape
detection by the body.
 They are proven non-toxic in lab tests even when they penetrate the
cell. The liver filters them out after 2 weeks as well.
 Immunotargeting (binding primarily to cancer) prevents damage to
healthy tissue
 NIR light allow for non-invasive treatment
 Gold nanoshells however have proven effective and with
continued research along with new nanotechnology breakthroughs,
this could be a potent cure for many types of cancer.
Cai, W., Gao, T., Hong, H., & Sun, J. (2008). Applications of gold nanoparticles in cancer nanotechnology. Nanotechnology,
science and applications, 1, 17.
Chicago

15. Conclusion
Currently, nanoshells are NOT used in humans
The same nanoshells that are used to image cancer can
also be used to treat cancer
However one of the major faults is that nanomaterials of
all kinds are extremely hard to make cheaply and
accurately.
Awaiting FDA approval to begin clinical trials

16. References
 Agrawal, A., Huang, S., Lin, A. W. H., Barton, J. K., Drezek, R. A., Pfefer, T. J., & Lee, M. H.
(2006). Quantitative evaluation of optical coherence tomography signal enhancement with gold
nanoshells. Journal of biomedical optics, 11(4), 041121-041121.
 Cai, W., Gao, T., Hong, H., & Sun, J. (2008). Applications of gold nanoparticles in cancer
nanotechnology. Nanotechnology, science and applications, 1, 17.Chicago
 Erickson, T. A., & Tunnell, J. W. (2009). Gold nanoshells in biomedical applications.
Nanotechnologies for the Life Sciences.
 Hirsch LR, Stafford RJ, Bankson JA, et al. 2003b. Nanoshell-mediated near-infrared thermal
therapy of tumors under magnetic resonance guidance. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A, 100:13549–5
 Huang, X., El-Sayed, I. H., Qian, W., & El-Sayed, M. A. (2006). Cancer cell imaging and
photothermal therapy in the near-infrared region by using gold nanorods. Journal of the
American Chemical Society, 128(6), 2115-2120.
 Wu, C., Yu, C., & Chu, M. (2010). A gold nanoshell with a silica inner shell synthesized using
liposome templates for doxorubicin loading and near-infrared photothermal therapy.
International journal of nanomedicine, 6, 807-813.Chicago

17. Acknowledgement
 To my professor and thesis supervisor Dr. Prabir K. Patra
 To all my classmates

18. THANK YOU….