Nanoheater-induced plasmonic hyperhermia: Role of light irradiation conditions, and their effects on protein biocorona formation and biological cell responses

Abstract

This thesis presents a comprehensive investigation into the photothermal properties of gold nanorods and nanostars for their potential application in plasmonic photothermal therapy targeting breast cancer. The study covers the synthesis, surface functionalization, protein corona formation, and in vitro interaction of the designed gold nanostructures with cancer cells. Their photothermal responses were systematically evaluated under continuous and femtosecond laser irradiation, with particular attention to the influence of morphology, surface coating, and concentration. Results demonstrate that both nanorods and nanostars efficiently generate heat upon light exposure, enabling the selective ablation of tumor cells and highlighting their promise for targeted cancer therapy.