Ultrasonic delivery of silica–gold nanoshells for photothermolysis of sebaceous glands in humans: Nanotechnology from the bench to clinic

• Dilip Paithankar^a, , 1, , 
• Byeong Hee Hwang^b, 1, 2, 
• Girish Munavalli^c, 
• Arielle Kauvar^d, 
• Jenifer Lloyd^e,
• Richard Blomgren^a, 
• Linda Faupel^a, 
• Todd Meyer^a, 
• Samir Mitragotri^b, , 

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Abstract

Recent advances in nanotechnology have provided numerous opportunities to transform medical therapies for the treatment of diseases including cancer, atherosclerosis, and thrombosis. Here, we report, through in vitro studies and in vivo human pilot clinical studies, the use of inert, inorganic silica–gold nanoshells for the treatment of a widely prevalent and researched, yet poorly treated disease of acne. We use ~ 150 nm silica–gold nanoshells, tuned to absorb near-IR light and near-IR laser irradiation to thermally disrupt overactive sebaceous glands in the skin which define the etiology of acne-related problems. Low-frequency ultrasound was used to facilitate deep glandular penetration of the nanoshells. Upon delivery of the nanoshells into the follicles and glands, followed by wiping of superficial nanoshells from skin surface and exposure of skin to near-infrared laser, nanoshells localized in the follicles absorb light, get heated, and induce focal thermolysis of sebaceous glands. Pilot human clinical studies confirmed the efficacy of ultrasonically-delivered silica–gold nanoshells in inducing photothermal disruption of sebaceous glands without damaging collateral skin.