Theranostic Nanocages for Imaging and Photothermal Therapy of Prostate Cancer Cells by Active Targeting of Neuropeptide-Y Receptor

). Only cells treated with AuNCs underwent morphological alterations in the cytoskeleton structure upon laser irradiation, leading to membrane blebbing and loss of microvilli associated with cell migration. This effect is promising in view of possible inhibition of proliferation and invasion of cancer cells. In summary, our Au-peptide NCs proved to be an efficient theranostic nanosystem for targeted detection and activatable killing of prostate cancer cells.