Background
Advances in the field of nanotechnology have shed light on the applications of nanoparticles for cancer treatment.
Conclusion
Collectively, the triangular silver nanoplates were more effective than the gold nanorods for PTT. We believe that as-prepared nanoparticles have remarkable features and will become promising future nanomedicine.
Methods
Folic acid and chitosan-functionalized gold nanorods (FACS-R) and triangular silver nanoplates (FACS-T) were synthesized and their properties were elucidated by UV-visible spectrophotometry, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, field emission transmission electron microscopy and high-resolution X-ray diffraction.
Results
The average size of the FACS-R was determined to be a transverse length of 13.1 ± 1.8 nm and a longitudinal length of 47.2 ± 8.9 nm with an aspect ratio of 3.6. The average size of FACS-T was measured to be 31.8 ± 7.7 nm. Colloidal solutions of FACS-R and FACS-T were stable on the shelf at ambient temperature for 14 days in the dark. Anticancer agents were encapsulated in FACS-R and FACS-T. FACS-T showed a higher encapsulation efficiency with docetaxel, paclitaxel and diallyl disulfide than FACS-R. The cell viability on human gastric adenocarcinoma cells (AGS), human epithelial cervix adenocarcinoma cells (HeLa) and human colorectal adenocarcinoma cells (HT-29) after treatment with anticancer agent-encapsulated FACS-R and FACS-T was determined using the 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay. Interestingly, paclitaxel-encapsulated FACS-R and FACS-T showed the highest percentages of early and late apoptosis on HeLa cells. A cell cycle analysis demonstrated increased G2/M arrest on HeLa cells with docetaxel and paclitaxel-encapsulated FACS-R and FACS-T. The FACS-T induced more G2/M arrest on HeLa cells than the FACS-R. To assess applications in near-infrared photothermal therapy (PTT), the cell viability on HeLa cells with the anticancer agent-encapsulated FACS-R and FACS-T was assessed in the presence or absence of 808 nm laser irradiation. The results showed that 808 nm laser irradiation significantly decreased cell viability.