Ultrasound and photoacoustic image-guided photothermal therapy using silica-coated gold nanorods: In-vivo study

In nanoparticle mediated photothermal therapy, confirmation of nanoparticle delivery/deposition in a tumor before therapy and temperature monitoring during therapy are needed to optimize therapeutic outcomes. In this paper, we demonstrate that ultrasound and photoacoustic imaging techniques can plan and guide photothermal cancer therapy, using an in-vivo mouse model of subcutaneous cancer intravenously administrated with silica-coated gold nanorods.