Choice of Nanoparticles for Plasmonic Photothermal-Assisted Multimodal Cancer Therapy

For plasmonic photothermal-assisted multimodal cancer therapy, the first and most crucial step is the selection of a nanoparticle as a base plasmonic photothermal therapy (PPTT) agent. The selected PPTT agent is next subjected to surface modifications, and a multifunctional nanocomposite with desired therapeutic effects can be designed and synthesized for PPTT-assisted multimodal cancer therapy. The successful synthesis of a multifunctional nanocomposite is dictated by certain critical parameters associated with the choice of PPTT agent that need to be taken care of while finalizing a PPTT agent. Such parameters include (a) plasmonic response of the nanoparticle, (b) photothermal conversion efficiency, (c) structural dimensions, (d) biocompatibility and (e) ease of surface functionalization. So, this chapter first starts with a detailed discussion of these parameters, their significance in the final therapeutic performance and the biological fate of nanoparticles during in vivo or clinical use. Next, a comprehensive compilation of literature review on the reported nanoparticles (PPTT agents) of various materials is presented. Based on the literature review and the selection criteria (parameters) of PPTT agents, gold-based nanoparticles have been shown to be the most promising PPTT agent out of the reported nanostructures owing to their unique properties and reports of clinical trials for PPTT, mentioned in this chapter. Subsequently, the search outcomes based on a systematic literature review conducted on reported multifunctional nanocomposites (with gold as the PPTT agent) for PPTT-assisted multimodal cancer therapeutics are illustrated. Lastly, a summary of gold-based multifunctional nanocomposites for PPTT-assisted photodynamic therapy (PDT) or/and chemotherapy is presented, covering crucial therapeutic parameters for PPTT-assisted multimodal therapy, critical findings and limitations associated with the reported studies. Finally, based on the overall analysis of the reported gold nanocomposites considering the discussed selection parameters, the gold nanoblackbodies are proposed as one of the promising PPTT agents for PPTT-assisted multimodal therapy. Overall, based on the approach mentioned in this chapter and by understanding the basics and significance of the listed selection parameters, the researchers and material scientists can choose such promising nanostructures to develop therapeutically efficient multifunctional nanocomposites for PPTT-assisted multimodal cancer therapy, as an advancement in cancer therapeutics.