Hybrid MoSe2-indocyanine green nanosheets as a highly efficient phototheranostic agent for photoacoustic imaging guided photothermal cancer therapy

Biomater Sci. 2018 May 29;6(6):1503-1516. doi: 10.1039/c8bm00104a.

Abstract

Phototheranostic technology based on photoacoustic imaging (PAI) and photothermal therapy (PTT) is emerging as a powerful tool for tumor theranostic applications. For effective tumor eradication, a novel PAI/PTT theranostic nanoagent with an excellent optical absorption and photothermal capability is highly desired. Herein, we present a new PAI/PTT nanohybrid named sMoSe2-ICG NSs by covalently conjugating aminated indocyanine green (ICG) onto a single layer of molybdenum selenide nanosheets (sMoSe2 NSs). We first validate the sMoSe2-ICG NS agent for the PAI and PTT effect in vitro and then use it for highly-sensitive PAI guided highly efficient tumor PTT in vivo. The sMoSe2-ICG NS hybrid possesses several advantages for PAI/PTT applications: (1) the sMoSe2-ICG NSs have strong absorbance in the broad near-infrared (NIR) region, enabling a highly efficient PAI/PTT theranostic effect and the selection of the most widely used excitation wavelength of 808 nm for PTT; (2) the photothermal ability of ICG in sMoSe2-ICG NSs is augmented due to ICG aggregation induced fluorescence quenching and the re-absorbance of ICG fluorescence by sMoSe2 NSs, which further enhances the PAI/PTT theranostic effect. (3) The characteristic absorption peak of sMoSe2-ICG NSs is red-shifted compared to free ICG, resulting in a higher PAI signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) in vivo. Thus, combined with the good stability, high biocompatibility and minimal toxicity properties, the obtained sMoSe2-ICG NSs hybrid has bright prospects for use in future PAI/PTT clinical applications.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Breast Neoplasms / diagnostic imaging
  • Breast Neoplasms / therapy*
  • Coloring Agents / therapeutic use*
  • Female
  • Hyperthermia, Induced / methods
  • Indocyanine Green / therapeutic use*
  • Mice, Inbred BALB C
  • Mice, Nude
  • Molybdenum / chemistry
  • Molybdenum / therapeutic use*
  • Nanostructures / therapeutic use*
  • Optical Imaging / methods
  • Photoacoustic Techniques / methods
  • Phototherapy / methods
  • Selenious Acid / chemistry
  • Selenious Acid / therapeutic use*
  • Theranostic Nanomedicine / methods*

Substances

  • Coloring Agents
  • Molybdenum
  • Selenious Acid
  • Indocyanine Green