Small Molecule–Gold Nanorod Conjugates Selectively Target and Induce Macrophage Cytotoxicity towards Breast Cancer Cells

 
Erik C. Dreaden, Sandra C. Mwakwari, Lauren A. Austin, Matthew J. Kieffer, Adegboyega K. Oyelere,* and Mostafa A. El-Sayed*
 

 http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/smll.201200333/full

"Macrolide-functionalized gold nanorods were preferentially delivered to tumor-associated macrophage (TAM) cells and selectively induced TAM-dependent cytotoxicity towards breast cancer cells in co-culture. Because TAMs migrate freely in circulation, bypass the blood–brain barrier, and extensively accumulate/infiltrate into breast tumors, these data show that macrophage-targeting gold nanoparticles can serve as promising candidates for targeted cancer therapy."
However, the gold nanorods were not effective for photothermal ablation of TAMs or of the tumor cells.