Organelle-Targeting Gold Nanorods for Macromolecular Profiling of Subcellular Organelles and Enhanced Cancer Cell Killing

Subcellular organelles, for example, nucleus, mitochondria, and lysosome, are the vital organelles with responsibilities that maintain cell operation and metabolism. Owing to their roles in energy production and programmed cell death, these organelles have become prime therapeutic targets in different diseases and states. In this study, biocompatible, organelle-targeting nanoprobes were developed by modifying gold nanorods (AuNRs) with specific targeting peptides. These nanoprobes were employed to directly profile subcellular biomolecules and vital organelles by surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) spectroscopy. Macromolecular spectral profiles of subcellular organelles were achieved and compared. Further, these organelle-targeting AuNRs were used for the photothermal treatment of cancer cells (HepG2, HeLa, and MCF-7 cell lines). The cell viability assays show that the nucleus- and mitochondria-targeting AuNRs provide higher photothermal efficiencies under an 808 nm laser relative to the lysosome-targeting ones. This study makes critical insights into the spectral profiles of subcellular organelles and also inspires people in the development of high-efficacy cancer therapeutic strategies by subcellular organelle-targeting drugs.