Hydrophilic Cu sub(3)BiS sub(3) Nanoparticles for Computed Tomography Imaging and Photothermal Therapy

• Published in: Particle & particle systems characterization Vol. 32; no. 6; pp. 668 - 679
• Main Authors: Yang, Yan, Wu, Huixia, Shi, Benzhao, Guo, Linlin, Zhang, Yingjian, An, Xiao, Zhang, Hao, Yang, Shiping
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: 01.06.2015
• Subjects: AGING MECHANISMS; Biocompatibility; Biomedical materials; Imaging; In vivo testing; In vivo tests; PARTICLES; POLYMERS; Surgical implants; Therapy; Tomography
• ISSN: 0934-0866; 1521-4117
• DOI: 10.1002/ppsc.201400238

Hydrophilic Cu sub(3)BiS sub(3) nanoparticles (NPs) have been prepared using the thermal decomposition of precursor complexes in oily-mixed solvent followed by coating the produced Cu sub(3)BiS sub(3) NPs with polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP). The resulting Cu sub(3)BiS sub(3)/PVP NPs remain stable in aqueous solutions over a long period of time, and meanwhile, they show low in vitro cytotoxicity and negligible toxicity to mice in vivo. Cu sub(3)BiS sub(3)/PVP NPs could operate as an efficient dual-modal contrast agent to simultaneously enhance X-ray computed tomography imaging and photothermal imaging of tumor model in vivo. Moreover, highly efficient ablation of cancer cells both in vitro and in vivo has been successfully achieved by combining Cu sub(3)BiS sub(3)/PVP NPs with near-infrared (NIR) laser irradiation. All of the positive results in this study highlight that Cu sub(3)BiS sub(3)/PVP NPs could serve as a promising platform for cancer diagnosis and therapy. Hydrophilic Cu sub(3)BiS sub(3) nanoparticles (NPs) have been prepared by thermal decomposition of precursor complexes in oily mixed solvent and subsequent modification of the produced NPs with polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP). The resulting Cu sub(3)BiS sub(3)/PVP NPs show low toxicity and hold promising application potential in dual-modality X-ray computed tomography/photothermal imaging and efficient photothermal therapy of tumors.