PHOTOSTABILITY OF GOLD NANORODS IN CELLULAR VEHICLES FOR PHOTOACOUSTIC IMAGING AND PHOTOTHERMAL THERAPY OF CANCER

In this contribution, we investigate how the cellular uptake influences the stability and photothermal (PT) conversion efficiency of gold nanorods (GNRs) taken up by macrophages and then embedded in biomimetic scaffolds. PEGylated GNRs with a cationic profile were internalized by J774a.1 macrophages and then these cells were dispersed into chitosan films. The photostability and PT conversion efficiency under NIR pulsed and continuous wave irradiation at different laser fluences were investigated.