Photothermal Efficiency of Silver Nanoparticles in Three Dimensional Tissue Models

Overview

Photothermal treatments for cancer use metallic nanoparticles to increase local temperature through excitation of localized surface electrons. Yet, the effect of the surrounding microenvironment on the photothermal efficiencies of nanoparticles remain unknown. In this experiment, protocols for the synthesis of different sized silver nanoparticles stabilized in polyacrylic acid (AgPAA NP) were developed using different stabilizer concentrations. The nanoparticles were characterized for UV-Vis spectra, size-based Dynamic light scattering, and charge- and stability-based zeta potential. Silver nanoparticles in different substrates, water, polyHEMA, and a commercial hydrogel were irradiated with a 632.8 nm wavelength HeNe laser to determine the light to heat conversion efficiency of nanoparticles in each microenvironment, while measuring temperature across time with a thermocouple sensor. The results showed that of nanoparticles with peak absorptions at 440, 540, and 580 nm, those with peak absorptions at 540 nm and 580 nm in polyHEMA, a polymer used in 3D tissue models, were able to generate significant amounts of heat from light. The results support that the microenvironments and NP size do have an effect on photothermal efficiency of AgPAA NP and thus lay the foundation for the next step – a mathematical guideline to predicting nanoparticle heating in different cancer treatments.

Competition history

• AJAS 2020 Category not listed

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