BSA-Bioinspired Gadolinium Hybrid-Functionalized Hollow Gold Nanoshells for NIRF/PA/CT/MR Quadmodal Diagnostic Imaging-Guided Photothermal/Photodynamic Cancer Therapy

Multimodal imaging guided synergistic therapy promises more accurate diagnosis and higher therapeutic efficiency than single imaging modality or their simple "mechanical" combination. In this research, we fabricated a new multifunctional drug delivery system based on hollow gold nanoshells capped by gadolinium (Gd) based bovine serum albumin (BSA) hybrids (Au@BSA-Gd). The obtained nanoparticles exhibited excellent photothermal effect and computed tomography (CT)/photoacoustic (PA) activity. Besides, the BSA-bioinspired gadolinium complex endowed the nanoparticles attractive T1 contrast agent in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). In addition, the NIR absorbing phototherapeutic agent (ICG) was loaded into the Au@BSA-Gd nanoparticles due to their unique hollow and porous structures, thus performing photodynamic/photothermal property and near-infrared fluorescence (NIRF)/PA imaging capability. In this manner, a combined therapy approach was established consisting of photothermal therapy based on Au@BSA-Gd and photodynamic/photothermal therapy based on ICG. Furthermore, the well-designed nanocomposites with multiple integrated modalities enabled them to be an ideal nanotheranostic agent for NIRF/PA/CT/MR quadmodal imaging. Therefore, the ICG loaded albumin-bioinspired gadolinium hybrids functionalized hollow gold nanoshells (ICG-Au@BSA-Gd) hold great promise as a theranostic platform for simultaneously therapeutic monitoring and precise cancer therapy.