Functionalization of POM-Decorated Nanostars with Methylene Blue for Combinatorial Therapy

• Main Author: Vasile, Denisa-Geanina
• Format: Dissertation
• Language: English
• Published: ProQuest Dissertations & Theses 01-01-2023
• Subjects: Agronomy; Aqueous solutions; Atomic physics; Atoms & subatomic particles; Bacteria; Bioassays; Biofilms; Cancer therapies; Catalysis; Chemotherapy; Dyes; Electric fields; Electromagnetics; Energy; Gold; Gram-positive bacteria; Metabolism; Metals; Microbiology; Oncology; Oxidation; Pharmaceutical sciences; Polymer chemistry; Polymers; Reagents; Seeds; Silver; Surfactants; Therapy; Toxicity; Toxicology
• ISBN: 9798383776124

In recent years, gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) have attracted increasing interest in biomedical applications due to their low toxicity and the possibility to consider combinatorial therapy. AuNPs show excellent performances in photothermal therapy (PTT) and can be easily functionalized with therapeutic agents. Gold nanostars (AuNSs) in particular are promising candidates for PTT, since their surface plasmon band can be adjusted in the near infrared region (NIR), thus allowing for a better irradiation penetration in biological tissues.Polyoxometalates (POMs), a class of molecular oxides composed of metals in high oxidation states, are emerging as antitumoral agents. Additionally, POMs can be used as protecting ligands for metallic nanoparticles.In this work, we aimed to synthetize a new nano system based on AuNSs synthetized and functionalized with a newly designed hybrid organic-inorganic polyoxomolybdate, {MoV 8(Zol)4}. First, we have demonstrated the possibility to use this new POM as both reducing and stabilizing agent to produce a monodisperse stable solution of POM-functionalized AuNSs, with the surface plasmon band located in the NIR. These nanostructures were fully characterized using UV−Vis, DLS, Zeta potential, ICP−OES and TEM imaging. Furthermore, with the aim of bringing additional therapy, these POM-decorated AuNSs were functionalized with a cationic photosensitizer, methylene blue (MB), allowing the singlet oxygen production under irradiation for photodynamic therapy. Our findings highlighted the possibility to elaborate AuNSs with POMs and MB. These new nanocomposites will further be tested to assess the photothermal properties of AuNSs, the photodynamic properties of MB and the chemotherapeutic properties of POMs.