PEGylated mesoporous Bi2S3 nanostars loaded with chlorin e6 and doxorubicin for fluorescence/CT imaging-guided multimodal therapy of cancer

• Published in: Nanomedicine 2019-04, Vol.17, p.1-12
• Main Authors: Sun, Lihong, Hou, Mengmeng, Zhang, Lei, Qian, Dongxiang, Yang, Qingquan, Xu, Zhigang, Kang, Yuejun, Xue, Peng
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Bismuth (bi) chalcogenides; Cancer theranostics; Chlorin e6; Controlled drug release; Doxorubicin
• ISSN: 1549-9634; 1549-9642
• DOI: 10.1016/j.nano.2018.12.013

Taking advantage of the mesoporous structure of bismuth sulfide nanostars (Bi2S3 NSs), a chemotherapeutic drug of doxorubicin (DOX) and a photosensitizer of chlorin e6 (Ce6) were concurrently loaded in the PEGylated Bi2S3 NSs to formulate a multifunctional nanocomplex (BPDC NSs) for tumor theranostics. BPDC NSs have excellent photothermal conversion efficiency and a capacity of yielding reactive oxygen species (ROS) upon laser irradiation, and can realize on-demand drug release by either pH-activation or thermal induction. Accumulation of the nanodrug could be monitored in real-time by infrared thermal imaging, fluorescence imaging and computed tomography (CT). More importantly, the combination effects of photothermal therapy (PTT), photodynamic therapy (PDT) and chemotherapy were demonstrated to dramatically suppress solid tumors without recurrence in vivo. Featuring low systemic toxicity and high biocompatibility, this nanoplatform could be a promising derivative of Bi2S3 NSs for imaging-guided theranostics of cancer. Highly biocompatible PEGylated mesoporous bismuth sulfide nanostars encapsulating doxorubicin and chlorin e6 (BPDC NSs) were facilely synthesized for tumor theranostics. BPDC NSs, as a potent contrast agent, also enable specific multimodal imaging of tumors, including infrared thermal imaging, fluorescence imaging and computed tomography (CT). Moreover, aided by the passive targeting effect, the accumulation of BPDC NSs contributed to the combination effects of photothermal therapy, photodynamic therapy and chemotherapy of solid tumors. Collectively, BPDC NSs may serve as a promising nanomedicine for highly efficacious tumor suppression and eradication with imaging guidance. [Display omitted]