Magnetic Supramolecular Nanofibers of Gold Nanorods for Photothermal Therapy

摘要： Molecular aggregation triggered by physical and chemical stimuli and based on multiple noncovalent interactions has immense potential utility for modeling and mimicking biological systems and for the diagnosis and treatment of degenerative diseases. Herein the preparation, properties, and biological activities of a new type of organic–inorganic hybrid supramolecular nanofiber composed of gold nanorods, mitochondrion-targeting-peptide-coated iron oxide nanoparticles, and hyaluronic-acid (HA)-modified β-cyclodextrin is reported. These photothermal nanofibers, which grew along the direction of the geomagnetic field, induced severe mitochondrial damage in human adenocarcinoma cells (A549); and, more strikingly, the nanofibers greatly suppress metastasis and clear A549 cells in tumor-bearing mice upon irradiation with a near-infrared laser. The ability to recruit HA-receptor-expressing tumor cells and to target mitochondria, as well as the high photothermal conversion efficiency imparted by the gold nanorods, makes these supramolecular nanofibers a promising nanotherapy for cancer in general and metastasis-related malignancy in particular.