Fabrication of AuPt heterostructured nanorings for enhanced synergistic radio-photothermal therapy

Development of noble metal-based nanotheranostics for radio-photothermal therapy provides an alternative opportunity for advanced cancer therapy. However, the therapeutic effects of such nanotheranostics are insufficient to achieve the desired outcomes. Herein, we report the construction of novel polyvinylpyrrolidone functionalized gold-platinum hetero-nanorings (PVP-AuPt NRs) for enhanced synergistic radio-photothermal therapy. The fabricated gold-platinum heterojunctions can enhance the absorption of PVP-AuPt NRs in the near infrared (NIR) region and the resulting deposition of energy. As a photothermal agent and radiosensitizer, PVP-AuPt NRs allow robust photothermal ablation and heat-induced sensitized radiotherapy, thus making them potential nanotheranostic agents with photoacoustic/computed tomography imaging capabilities. The in vitro and in vivo results demonstrate that PVP-AuPt NRs could intensively synergize photothermal ablation with radiotherapy to completely kill tumor cells without obvious recurrence. Therefore, this study provides a simple yet effective hybrid approach to design and fabricate attractive metal-based nanotheranostic agents for enhanced radio-photothermal therapy.