Detecting cancer cells labeled with gold nanorods using nonlinear endomicroscopy

Gold Nanorods are used to specifically label cancer cells. Cervical cancer cells, HeLa cells, labeled by gold nanorods were first detected by multi-photon-excited photoluminescence endomicroscopy, which shows that multi-photon-excited photoluminescence endomicroscopy could be used in noninvasively detecting cancers. Furthermore, cells labelled with gold nanorods become highly susceptible to photothermal damage when irradiated at the plasmon resonance. Therefore multi-photon-excited photoluminescence endomicroscopy is potential for cancer cells or tumors therapy and treatment. © 2009 Optical Society of America.