Figure 1.

Experimental design of Ag NP synthesis and modification for the HER2-targeted photothermal therapy in vitro and in vivo. (a): “Green” nanoparticle synthesis via the reduction of silver nitrate with Lavandula angustifolia Mill. secondary metabolites (1–2), modification of NP surface with scaffold polypeptide—affibody Z_HER2:342 through the intermediate PEGylation (3), and carbodiimide conjugation (4). Electron micrographs of Ag NPs, obtained by SEM (scale 100 nm). Absorbance spectra of Ag NPs indicate the presence of an LSPR peak. (b): Photothermally-induced death of HER2-overexpressing cancer cells in vitro mediated by the targeted delivery of modified NPs to specific cells and subsequent light irradiation, leading to Ag NP heating, Ag⁺ ions release, and ROS generation. in vivo xenograft tumor photothermal therapy with targeted Ag NP injections and external irradiation of the tumor site, leading to the full tumor and metastasis elimination.