Abstract: We have explored germanium nanoparticles (Ge NPs) as a potential material for photothermal therapy in cancer treatment. Given the high intrinsic optical absorption of bulk germanium in the near-infrared (NIR-I) biological transparency window, pulsed laser ablation in liquid (PLAL) was employed to produce a colloid of Ge NPs with a Mie-resonant size in the range of 100–500 nm. The heating efficiency of individual Ge NPs was evaluated using 785 nm laser irradiation, while the temperature-dependent shift in the Ge–Ge Raman band was monitored simultaneously. The maximum estimated temperature increase of 480 K at a laser power density of 3 mW/μm2 for Ge NPs with a diameter of 300 nm was confirmed with no signs of oxidation or structural degradation. This value is more than four times higher than that of pure silicon NPs of a similar size. Laser heating (808 nm, 4.5 W) of an isopropanol suspension containing Ge NPs demonstrated that their resonant size enables grounds for mild photothermal therapy with a linear light-to-heat conversion efficiency response to NPs concentration reaching 17%, and the potential to heat the suspension by ∆T = 5–50°C within an NPs concentration range of 1.25–10 μg/mL. © Pleiades Publishing, Ltd. 2025.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)S492-S498
JournalBulletin of the Russian Academy of Sciences: Physics
Volume89
Issue numberSuppl 4
DOIs
StatePublished - 2025

    Research areas

  • colloid nanoparticles, germanium, Mie- resonance, nanothermometry, photo hyperthermia, photothermal conversion, pulsed laser ablation in liquid, Conversion efficiency, Germanium compounds, Hyperthermia therapy, Infrared devices, Laser ablation, Light absorption, Nanoparticles, Oncology, Pulsed lasers, Suspensions (fluids), Colloid nanoparticles, Germaniums (Ge), Mie resonance, Nanothermometry, Near Infrared, Near-infrared, Photo hyperthermia, Photothermal conversion, Photothermal therapy, Pulsed laser ablation in liquids, Germanium

ID: 150124777