, a highly reactive chemical that is toxic to cancer cells. In PTT, a molecule called a photothermal agent converts absorbed light into heat, with the resulting hyperthermia leading to the partial or complete destruction of tumor tissue.
These multi-functional, tumor-targeting nanospheres protect encapsulated photosensitizers and photothermal agents from degradation and deliver these molecules directly to cancer cells. The ALUMSNs enable tumor detection and monitoring through thermal and fluorescence imaging, as well as magnetic resonance imaging .
"In addition, the localized hyperthermia required for PTT is dependent on significant accumulation of photothermal agents within tumors." The ability of the nanocarriers developed by the NYUAD team to increase the efficiency at which photosensitizers and photothermal agents are delivered to the tumor is a critical advance.