Multifunctional Magneto-Plasmonic Fe3O4/Au Nanocomposites: Approaching Magnetophoretically-Enhanced Photothermal Therapy

Magneto-plasmonic nanocomposites can possess properties inherent to both individual components (iron oxide and gold nanoparticles) and are reported to demonstrate high potential in targeted drug delivery and therapy. Herein, we report on Fe₃O₄/Au magneto-plasmonic nanocomposites (MPNC) synthesized with the use of amino acid tryptophan via chemical and photochemical reduction of Au ions in the presence of nanosized magnetite. The magnetic field (MF) induced aggregation was accompanied by an increase in the absorption in the near-infrared (NIR) spectral region, which was demonstrated to provide an enhanced photothermal (PT) effect under NIR laser irradiation (at 808 nm). A possibility for therapeutic application of the MPNC was illustrated using cancer cells in vitro. Cultured HeLa cells were treated by MPNC in the presence of MF and without it, following laser irradiation and imaging using confocal laser scanning microscopy. After scanning laser irradiation of the MPNC/MF treated cells, a formation and rise of photothermally-induced microbubbles on the cell surfaces was observed, leading to a damage of the cell membrane and cell destruction. We conclude that the synthesized magneto-plasmonic Fe₃O₄/Au nanosystems exhibit magnetic field-induced reversible aggregation accompanied by an increase in NIR absorption, allowing for an opportunity to magnetophoretically control and locally enhance a NIR light-induced thermal effect, which holds high promise for the application in photothermal therapy.