Study of IR Photoheating of Aqueous Solutions of Boron Nanoparticles Synthesized by Pulsed Laser Ablation for Cancer Therapy

Photothermal properties of boron (B) nanoparticles (NPs) synthesized by pulsed laser ablation in liquid (PLAL) are studied. It is found that B NPs have high optical extinction coefficient in the near infrared (IR) region, in particular, its value was 0.2 l/(cm g) at a wavelength of 800 nm. It is shown that aqueous suspensions of B NPs can be heated during laser irradiation with a wavelength of 830 nm and a radiation power of 1 W. Here, the temperature increase varied from 6.5 to 36°C under the increase of the particle concentration from 0.04 to 0.8 g/L; while the relevant parameter in the absence of particles was 2°C. B NPs were able to provide a stable photothermal response during several irradiation cycles. The results evidence a high potential of B NPs as sensitizers of photothermal therapy (PTT).