Aim: To develop new methodologies for selective cell ablation in a temporally and spatially precise fashion in model organisms.
Materials & methods: living polyps (Hydra vulgaris) treated with gold nanoprisms were near-infrared (NIR) irradiated and the photothermal effects evaluated at whole-animal, cellular and molecular levels.
Results: Nanoprisms showed good efficiency of internalization in living specimens, with no sign of toxicity; under NIR irradiation they induced cell death and the overexpression of the hsp70 gene.
Conclusion: gold nanoprisms could be employed as efficient heat mediators in model organisms, and NIR-triggered cell ablation may represent a new advanced tool to study cell function. Solving bioethical and economical issues, invertebrates may provide alternative models bridging the gap between cell research and preclinical studies of photothermal therapy.
Keywords: Hydra vulgaris; gold nanoparticles; hyperthermia; model organism; near-infrared light; photothermal cell ablation.