Polypyrrole-stabilized gold nanorods with enhanced photothermal effect towards two-photon photothermal therapy

Abstract

A core–shell composite consisting of polypyrrole (PPy) coating on Au nanorods with high two-photon photothermal efficiency and good photostability have been fabricated via a facile interfacial polymerization. Transmission electron microscopy confirmed the core–shell structure of the uniform Au–PPy nanorods. The core–shell composites exhibited improved temperature elevation and photostability compared to pure Au nanorods. The composites internalized by cancer cells can be detected by strong two-photon fluorescence, thus minimizing photothermal damage to normal tissues. The cell cytotoxicity and two-photon efficiency experiments in vitro demonstrate that the composites of Au–PPy nanorods have high efficiency to inhibit the proliferation of tumor cells.