Author(s): Aidan J. Canning, Tri Vu1, Luca Menozzi, Paul Klippel, Xinrong Chen, Jianing Chen,Theresa Charity, Khang Hoang, Joseph J. Yang, Yun Jing, Gregory M. Palmer5,Junjie Yao1, Tuan Vo-Dinh
ABSTRACT
Nanoparticle-mediated photothermal therapy (PTT) is a promising strategy for cancer treatment; however,nanoparticle instability and lack of precise imaging tools for real-time temperature monitoring during therapyand nanoparticle tracking have hindered investigations in animal models. To address these critical issues, we pres-ent a theranostic platform that seamlessly integrates armored core–gold nanostar (AC-GNS)–mediated PTT withfull-view photoacoustic computed tomography (PACT), enabling nanoparticle tracking and real-time imaging-guided PTT in deep tissues. The AC-GNS platform delivered exceptional photostability and thermal resilience be-yond those of conventional nanoparticles while serving as a high-performance contrast agent for PACT and aphotothermal transducer for PTT. Integrating AC-GNS–mediated PTT with noninvasive PACT enabled whole-bodynanoparticle tracking, PTT treatment monitoring via thermal imaging, and thermal dose determination, culminat-ing in a 100% survival rate in a murine bladder cancer model without long-term treatment-related toxicity. Thistheranostic platform lays the foundation for broader research applications and provides opportunities for ad-vancing solid tumor treatment and response assessment research.