Prussian Blue Type Nanoparticles for Biomedical Applications

Abstract

Prussian blue (PB) type nanoparticles belong to a wide class of inorganic nanoparticles, such as metal, metal oxide or quantum dots nano-objects, which present unique size-and shape-dependent physical and chemical properties arising from the high surface-to-volume ratio, quantum size effects and electrodynamic interactions. PB type nanoparticles possess unique and exciting physical and chemical properties making them highly promising for biomedical applications. PB type nanoparticles have also been proposed as new contrast agents for Near Infrared light mediated photoacoustic imaging due to their strong absorption in the 600–900 nm region owing to the presence of the metal-to-metal ions charge transfer band and their high photostability. The most extensive development of PB type nanoparticles for therapeutic features is linked with their exceptional potential for laser-assisted photothermal ablation making them very interesting as photothermal agents for the cancer therapy.