Graphene-isolated-Au-nanocrystal Nanostructures for Multimodal Cell Imaging and Photothermal-enhanced

Using nanomaterials to develop multimodal systems has generated cutting-edge biomedical functions.Herein, we develop a simple chemical-vapor-deposition method to fabricategraphene-isolated-Au-nanocrystal (GIAN) nanostructures. A thin layer of graphene is precisely depositedon the surfaces of gold nanocrystals to enable unique capabilities. First, assurface-enhanced-Raman-scattering substrates, GIANs quench background fluorescence and reducephotocarbonizationorphotobleachingofanalytes.Second,GIANscanbeusedformultimodalcellimagingby both Raman scattering and near-infrared (NIR) two-photon luminescence. Third, GIANs provide aplatformforloadinganticancerdrugssuchasdoxorubicin(DOX)fortherapy.Finally,theirNIRabsorptionpropertiesgiveGIANsphotothermaltherapeuticcapabilityincombinationwithchemotherapy.Controlledrelease of DOX molecules from GIANs is achieved through NIR heating, significantly reducing thepossibilityofsideeffectsinchemotherapy.TheGIANshavehighsurfaceareasandstablethinshells,aswellas unique optical and photothermal properties, making them promising nanostructures for biomedicalapplications.