CRIS - Current Research Information System
2024
,
Orlando Donoso-González
,
Ana L. Riveros
,
José F. Marco
,
Diego Venegas-Yazigi
,
Verónica Paredes-García
,
Camila F. Olguín
,
Cristina Mayorga-Lobos
,
LOBOS GONZALEZ, LORENA DE LOURDES
,
Felipe Franco-Campos
,
Joseph Wang
,
Marcelo J. Kogan
,
Soledad Bollo
,
Claudia Yañez
,
Daniela F. Báez
Core–shell micro/nanomotors have garnered significant interest in biomedicine owing to their versatile task-performing capabilities. However, their effectiveness for photothermal therapy (PTT) still faces challenges because of their poor tumor accumulation, lower light-to-heat conversion, and due to the limited penetration of near-infrared (NIR) light. In this study, we present a novel core–shell micromotor that combines magnetic and photothermal properties. It is synthesized via the template-assisted electrodeposition of iron (Fe) and reduced graphene oxide (rGO) on a microtubular pore-shaped membrane. The resulting Fe-rGO micromotor consists of a core of oval-shaped zero-valent iron nanoparticles with large magnetization. At the same time, the outer layer has a uniform reduced graphene oxide (rGO) topography. Combined, these Fe-rGO core–shell micromotors respond to magnetic forces and near-infrared (NIR) light (1064 nm), achieving a remarkable photothermal conversion efficiency of 78% at a concentration of 434 µg mL−1. They can also carry doxorubicin (DOX) and rapidly release it upon NIR irradiation. Additionally, preliminary results regarding the biocompatibility of these micromotors through in vitro tests on a 3D breast cancer model demonstrate low cytotoxicity and strong accumulation. These promising results suggest that such Fe-rGO core–shell micromotors could hold great potential for combined photothermal therapy.