Illumination of Gold Nanoparticles for Tumor Angiogenesis

Abstract

This paper reports on the evolution of tumor-specific gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) as theranostic tools intended for target accumulation and the detection of tumor angiogenesis via ocular image (OI) before diagnosis is started, before initiation with an external X-ray radiation source. The AuNPs were decorated with a near-infrared dye, and RGD peptides as the tumor targeting vector for αvβ3-integrin, which is overexpressed in tissue with high tumor angiogenesis. The AuNPs were examined in an ocular image setting in vitro and in vivo exhibiting approving diagnostic properties with regards to tumor cell accumulation, bio-distribution, and clearance. Further- more, the therapeutic features of the AuNPs were evaluated in vitro on pUC19 DNA and on A431 cells concerning acute and long-term toxicity, indicating that these AuNPs could be useful as radio-sensitizers in therapeutic concepts in the future.