Rattle-type Au@Cu<sub>2-x</sub>S hollow mesoporous nanocrystals with enhanced photothermal efficiency for intracellular oncogenic microRNA detection and chemo-photothermal therapy.

Cao, Yu; Li, Shuzhou; Chen, Chao; Wang, Dongdong; Wu, Tingting; Dong, Haifeng; Zhang, Xueji · Biomaterials · 2018

basic_science · Level V

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Abstract

The coupling of the localized surface plasma resonance (LSPR) between noble metals of Au, Ag and Cu and semiconductors of Cu<sub>2-x</sub>E (E = S, Se, Te) opens new regime to design photothermal (PT) agents with enhanced PT conversion efficiency. However, it is rarely explored on fabricating of engineered dual plasmonic hybrid nanosystem for combinatory therapeutic-diagnostic applications. Herein, rattle-type Au@Cu<sub>2-x</sub>S hollow mesoporous nanoparitcles with advanced PT conversion efficiency are designed for cellular vehicles and chemo-photothermal synergistic therapy platform. The LSPR coupling between the Au core and Cu<sub>2-x</sub>S shell are investigated experimentally and theoretically to generate a PT conversion efficiency high to 35.2% and enhanced by 11.3% than that of Cu<sub>2-x</sub>S. By conjugating microRNA (miRNA) gene probe on the surface, it can realize the intracellular oncogenic miRNA detection. After loading of anticancer drug doxorubicin into the cavity of the Au@Cu<sub>2-x</sub>S, the antitumor therapy efficacy is greatly enhanced in vitro and in vivo due to the NIR photoactivation chemo- and photothermal synergistic therapy. The rattle-type metal-semiconductor hollow mesoporous nanostructure with efficient LSPR coupling and high cargo loading capability will be beneficial to future design of LSPR-based photothermal agents for a broad range of biomedical application.

Medical subject headings