Synthesis of Bi2WO6-x nanodots with oxygen vacancies as an all-in-one nanoagent for simultaneous CT/IR imaging and photothermal/photodynamic therapy of tumors

Nanoscale. 2019 Aug 15;11(32):15326-15338. doi: 10.1039/c9nr05236d.

Abstract

All-in-one nanoagents with a single-component and all-required functions have attracted increasing attention for the imaging-guided therapy of tumors, but the design and preparation of such nanoagents remain a challenge. Herein, we report the introduction of oxygen vacancies to traditional semiconductors with heavy-metal elements for tuning photoabsorption in the near infrared (NIR) region, by using Bi2WO6 (band-gap: ∼2.7 eV) as a model. Bi2WO6-x nanodots with sizes of ∼3 or ∼8 nm have been prepared by a facile coprecipitation-solvothermal method assisted by citric acid (CA, 0.1-1.5 g) as the reduction agent. CA confers the removal of O atoms from the [Bi2O2]2+ layer during the solvothermal process, resulting in the formation of plenty of oxygen vacancies in the Bi2WO6-x crystal. As a result, NIR photoabsorption of Bi2WO6-x nanodots can be remarkably enhanced with the increase of the CA amount from 0 to 1.0 g. Under irradiation of a single-wavelength (808 nm, 1.0 W cm-2) NIR laser, black Bi2WO6-x-CA1.0 nanodots can not only efficiently produce a sufficient amount of heat with a photothermal conversion efficiency of 45.1% for photothermal therapy, but also generate singlet oxygen (1O2) for photodynamic therapy. Furthermore, due to the presence of heavy-metal (Bi and W) elements, Bi2WO6-x-CA1.0 nanodots have high X-ray attenuation ability for CT imaging. After the Bi2WO6-x-CA1.0 nanodot dispersion is injected into the tumor-bearing mice, the tumor can be imaged by using CT and an IR thermal camera. After irradiation with a single-wavelength (808 nm, 1.0 W cm-2, 10 min) NIR laser, the tumor can be completely suppressed by the synergic photothermal and photodynamic effects of Bi2WO6-x-CA1.0 nanodots, without recurrence and treatment-induced toxicity. Therefore, Bi2WO6-x nanodots have great potential as a novel all-in-one nanoagent for the imaging and phototherapy of tumors.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Bismuth / chemistry*
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Cell Survival / drug effects
  • Cell Survival / radiation effects
  • Infrared Rays
  • Iohexol / analogs & derivatives
  • Iohexol / chemistry
  • Iohexol / pharmacology
  • Mice
  • Nanostructures / chemistry*
  • Nanostructures / therapeutic use
  • Nanostructures / toxicity
  • Neoplasms / diagnosis
  • Neoplasms / pathology
  • Neoplasms / therapy
  • Oxygen / chemistry*
  • Photochemotherapy
  • Phototherapy
  • Singlet Oxygen / chemistry
  • Singlet Oxygen / metabolism
  • Temperature
  • Tissue Distribution
  • Tomography, X-Ray Computed
  • Tungsten Compounds / chemistry*

Substances

  • Tungsten Compounds
  • bismuth wolframate
  • Singlet Oxygen
  • Iohexol
  • iopromide
  • Oxygen
  • Bismuth