Thermotherapy of cancer using nanoporous silicon

초록

Recently thermotherapy of cancer based on the heat generation capability of carbon nanotubes or nanoparticles combined with a near-infrared(NIR)light irradiation technique has received significant attention. We report here that porous silicon(PS) can also be utilized as a therapeutic agent that generates heat sufficient to kill cancer cells without toxicity. The net temperature elevations by heat generation of PSi upon exposure of NIR with illumination intensities of 0.33 and 1.0w/cm2 for 20min were 9 and 20℃, respectively. A suspension of PSi in NaCl solution was found th be more efficient in killing cancer cells than PSi only. Cancer cells treated with PSi suspended in 0.9% NaCl solution exploded into fragments, while the surrounding cells not treated were viable.