(183t) The Role of Aminosilane Loading Density on the Formation of Gold- Coated Superparamagnatic Core/Shells with Enhanced Dual Surface Heating to Combat Tumor

Despite significant development in the therapeutic strategies for breast cancer, some challenges remain. Conventional treatments such as chemotherapy and surgery cause serious side effects. Among the various approaches to enhance the efficacy of breast cancer therapies, is the use of gold-coated magnetic nanoparticles, which have dual functionality acting as both magneto- and photo-thermal agents. Such nanoparticles may prove valuable in enhancing the therapeutic efficacy if synthesized as quantum-sized nanoparticles, which is still challenging. In this study, we tackle the synthesis of quantum-sized superparamagnetic (Fe₃O₄) nanoparticles coated with a thin shell of gold and explore their efficiency to generate heat as a result of their superparamagnetic properties and strong NIR absorption. Our findings show that gold shell formation around a core of quantum-sized nanoparticles is troublesome unless the loading density of (3-aminopropyl)triethoxysilane (APTES) onto Fe₃O₄ nanoparticles is maximized in order to increase the number of gold nanoparticles per Fe₃O₄ nanoparticle. Exposing Fe₃O₄/Au core/shell nanoparticles to an external magnetic field and NIR irradiation (~808 nm) results in complete apoptosis–mediated breast cancer death at 45°C, significantly reducing tumor growth in comparison to single mode treatments (magnetic or laser hyperthermia). Apparently, our quantum-sized core-shell nanoparticles afford greater heat efficiency when successfully applied as a dual magneto- photo-thermal therapy for breast cancer.