Multifunctional platform for photothermal therapy combined with luminescence nanothermometry probes

Abstract

The design of multifunctional magnetic nanoparticles (NPs) that can generate and monitor heat release in real-time during thermal therapy is a major challenge in nanomedicine. In this work, a trimodal system that combines magnetic hyperthermia (MH), photothermal therapy (PT) and luminescence nano-thermometry (LT) has been set up in a single platform. Magnetite NPs were optimized focusing on MH and PT; then, the NPs have been coated with embedded Nd3+ cations to enhance the PT and to act as LT probe. Nd3+ is an interesting luminescent probe, with excitation around 800 nm and emission at the second biological window. Such hybrid system could act as heat mediator and imaging probe for in situ thermometer during the PT and MH, since these wavelengths belong to the biological windows.