Probing nanoantenna-directed photothermal destruction of tumors using noninvasive laser irradiation

Abstract

Plasmonicnanomaterials have tremendous potential to improve the tumor specificity of traditional cancerablation practices, yet little effort has been directed toward quantitatively understanding their photothermal energy conversion in tumortissues. In the present work, we develop a predictive model for plasmonicnanomaterial assisted tumor destruction under extracorporeal laser irradiation. Instead of appealing to heuristically based laser intensification models with tunable, tissue absorption and scattering coefficients, we consider fundamental characteristics of optoelectrothermal energy conversion and heat dissipation for plasmonicnanomaterials within living tumortissues to construct a simulation tool that accurately reproduces our experimental findings, including aspects of delayed time-temperature characteristics. We believe the comprehensive modeling strategy outlined here provides a groundwork for the development of anticipatory therapeutic planning tools with individually tailored treatment plans, resulting in an ultimate benefit to ailing cancer patients.