Figure 1.

Characterization of the two components of a cooperative nanosystem. a) Schematic diagram depicting the cooperative nanomaterials system. b) TEM images of PEG-coated GNR, TSM, NSL, and TSL. The scale bars are all 100 nm. c) Optical image, thermal images, and Raman spectra of a mouse depicting the multifunctionality of the GNRs. The GNRs act as thermal transducers or as SERS contrast agents when irradiated with a laser of the appropriate wavelength and intensity. The mouse, bearing a MDA-MB-435 tumor, was injected intravenously with GNRs (10 mg Au kg⁻¹). The IR thermographic maps shown were obtained 24 h post-injection; the left image was acquired immediately before and the right image 5 min after onset of irradiation with a diode laser (λ = 810 nm, 0.75 W cm⁻²). Raman spectra (5 acquisitions of 60 s each) were acquired from the tumoral region (red trace) and from skin near the tumor (blue trace). The GNRs in this experiment were labeled with a cyanine dye and the peaks in the trace correspond to the SERS spectrum cyanine dye (verified by in vitro control). d) Amount of DOX released in vitro from the liposome and micelle formulations used in this study, as a function of temperature. The samples were incubated for 10 min at the indicated temperatures and the amount of free DOX was quantified by fluorescence spectroscopy, relative to a standard curve. Values represent the mean and the error bars indicate standard deviation.