Plasmonic magnetic nanostructure for bimodal imaging and photonic-based therapy of cancer cells

In summary, we synthesized a novel nanostructure that has NIR-absorbing (and scattering) optical characteristics and magnetic-responsive moieties for MRI. The nanocomposite particles were successfully demonstrated for use as bimodal-imaging contrast agents as well as photonic-based therapeutic agents for cancer cells. As a perspective of this research, we expect that these nanocomposite particles would enable biologists or medical doctors to gather diagnostic in vivo imaging data by using MRI at the preoperative stage. In addition, the pathologists can directly analyze biopsy samples during the operative and postoperative stages by using the strong scattering properties in the NIR region, even without any further need to prepare additional samples. Furthermore, the multifunctional nanostructure that was developed in this research has potential in a wider variety of novel applications that are related to modulated drug delivery, combined therapy (gene therapy and chemotherapy), and theranostic nanoplatforms.