Investigation of skin cancer through photoacoustic analysis and photothermal therapy utilizing modified Au-platinum nanoparticles

Abstract

The limited absorption and inadequate tissue penetration of gold (Au) nanoparticles, despite their exceptional photothermal conversion efficiency, restrict their potential in photoacoustic imaging and photothermal therapy. To overcome these limitations, we have developed modified Au-platinum nanoparticles that can be effectively utilized for photoacoustic analysis. Through the surface plasmon resonance coupling, we can considerably increase the absorption and bandwidth of the near-infrared light by modifying nanoparticles by adding Pt nanodots to the spherical Au nanoparticles’ surface. Moreover, hyaluronate makes it easier to administer developed nanoparticles transdermally, permitting effective passage across the epidermal and allowing effective skin tumor PA imaging. This achievement underscores the potential of developed hyaluronate-Au-platinum nanoparticles as a noninvasive agent for NIR light-mediated skin cancer theranostics. Also, we verify that the developed nanoparticles effectively penetrate the skin through photoacoustic imaging. By applying particles to the skin of a skin cancer mouse model and analyzing the depth of the photoacoustic signal generated by the material, the ability of the developed material to penetrate the skin and its performance as a photoacoustic exogenous contrast agent is confirmed.