Polypyrrole-Gold nanocomposites as a promising photothermal agent: Preparation, characterization and cytotoxicity study

Photothermal nanomaterials with near-infrared absorption and high energy conversion efficiency have recently attracted significant interest. Polypyrrole-gold nanocomposites (PPy-Au NCs) as photothermal nanoagents are synthesized using ex-situ polymerization method of the modified pyrrole monomers. Microscopic and spectroscopic characterization techniques are used to reveal the surface structure, composition variation and photoelectric properties of PPy-Au NCs, gold nanorods (Au NRs) and polypyyrole nanoparticles (PPy NPs). Their cytotoxic effects on the viability of Ehrlich Ascites Carcinoma cells in the dark are demonstrated. The surface coating of Au NRs with PPy NPs shows an enhancement in the photothermal efficiency of the proposed photothermal nanoagent. The photothermal conversion of nanomaterials are examined using polarized polychromatic incoherent low-energy light source (the energy density of the light is 2.4 J/cm² per minute and the specific power density is 40 mW/cm²).