OBJECTIVE To study the preparation process, photothermal conversion efficiency, drug loading capacity, and cytotoxicity of silver nanoparticles(AgNPs), providing a basis for the preparation of AgNPs-based drug.

METHODS  AgNPs were constructed using a polyphenol reduction method. The photothermal conversion efficiency of AgNPs was optimized by adjusting the dosage of sodium hydroxide and the structure of polyphenolic compounds. A temperature-time curve was plotted to evaluate the photothermal conversion performance of the AgNPs. The synthesized nanoparticles were loaded with the model drugs doxorubicin and Chlorin e6, respectively, to form new drug delivery systems. The drug loading capacity of these systems was measured using a UV spectrophotometer, and the cytotoxicity of the drug-loaded silver nanoparticles was evaluated through in vitro cell experiments.

RESULTS TA-AgNPs prepared with sodium hydroxide at a concentration of 0.1 mmol·L⁻¹ exhibited the strongest photothermal effect. The higher the content of gallic acid in the polyphenolic compound structure, the greater the cytotoxicity and drug loading capacity. Conversely, a lower number of hydroxyl groups in the gallic acid structure led to higher drug loading and greater cytotoxicity. Furthermore, under near-infrared light irradiation, the combined chemotherapy drug exhibited enhanced cytotoxicity.

CONCLUSION This study found that AgNPs prepared by the polyphenol reduction method can be controlled in terms of photothermal conversion efficiency by adjusting the concentration of sodium hydroxide, as well as drug loading capacity by adjusting the content of gallic acid or the number of hydroxyl groups in the polyphenolic compound structure.