Combined Photothermal and Surface-Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy Effect from Spiky Noble Metal Nanoparticles Wrapped within Graphene-Polymer Layers: Using Layer-by-layer Modified Reduced Graphene Oxide as Reactive Precursors

To fabricate functionally integrated hybrid nanoparticles holds high importance in biomedical applications and is still a challenging task. In this study, we report the first reduced graphene oxide (rGO)-nobel metal hybrid particles that present simultaneously the photothermal and surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) effect from the inorganic part and drug loading, dispersibility, and controllability features from LbL polyelectrolyte multilayers. The hybrid particles where spiky noble metal particles were wrapped within rGO-polyelectrolyte layers were prepared by a facile and controllable method. rGO template modified using polyethylenimine (PEI) and poly­(acrylic acid) (PAA) via layer-by-layer technology served as the reactive precursors, and the morphologies of the particles could be facilely controlled via controlling the number of bilayers around the rGO template. The hybrid particle presented low cytotoxicity. After loading doxorubicin hydrochloride, the particles effectively induced cell death, and photothermal treatment further decreased cell viability. rGO-Ag hybrid particles could be prepared similarly. We expect the reported method provides an effective strategy to prepare rGO-noble metal hybrid nanoparticles that find potential biomedical applications.