Synergistic Effect of Photothermal Therapy and Chemotherapy Using Camptothecin-Conjugated Gold Nanorods

Abstract

A combinatorial treatment comprising thermal therapy and chemotherapy offers synergistic effects by inducing localized heat to targeted tumor sites and simultaneously delivering anticancer drugs to minimize systemic side effects and enhance the cytotoxic effect. In this study, a novel platform is developed for combining photothermal therapy and chemotherapy using drug-conjugated gold nanorods (GNRs). Camptothecin (CPT), a model anticancer drug, is chemically conjugated onto GNRs through hydrolytic ester bonding. Upon near-infrared (NIR) irradiation, localized heat from GNRs in target areas starts to destroy tissues and cells via photothermal therapy, and the elevated temperature accelerates hydrolysis of ester linkage, rapidly releasing drugs for chemotherapy. This combined NIR triggered thermal therapy and chemotherapy with CPT-functionalized GNRs (CPT-GNRs) presents a synergistic effect that has high efficacy in in vitro tests, thus providing a robust platform for efficient cancer treatments.