Biodegradable Bi₂O₂Se Quantum Dots for Photoacoustic Imaging‐Guided Cancer Photothermal Therapy

Abstract

As new 2D layered nanomaterials, Bi2O2Se nanoplates have unique semiconducting properties that can benefit biomedical applications. Herein, a facile top‐down approach for the synthesis of Bi2O2Se quantum dots (QDs) in a solution is described. The Bi2O2Se QDs with a size of 3.8 nm and thickness of 1.9 nm exhibit a high photothermal conversion coefficient of 35.7% and good photothermal stability. In vitro and in vivo assessments demonstrate that the Bi2O2Se QDs possess excellent photoacoustic (PA) performance and photothermal therapy (PTT) efficiency. After systemic administration, the Bi2O2Se QDs accumulate passively in tumors enabling efficient PA imaging of the entire tumors to facilitate imaging‐guided PTT without obvious toxicity. Furthermore, the Bi2O2Se QDs which exhibit degradability in aqueous media not only have sufficient stability during in vivo circulation to perform the designed therapeutic functions, but also can be discharged harmlessly from the body afterward. The results reveal the great potential of Bi2O2Se QDs as a biodegradable multifunctional agent in medical applications.

Progress Report on Property, Preparation, and Application of Bi2O2Se

“…[10,28] The absorption spectra of Bi 2 O 2 Se nanosheets cover an ultrabroad optical range from UV-vis to mid-IR, [13,33] and Bi 2 O 2 Se QDs exhibit strong absorption in the range of 300 to 900 nm. [15] Meanwhile, compared with TMDs and BP, Bi 2 O 2 Se also shows high sensitivity and broadband response for photodetection. [12] Besides, ultrafast spectroscopy has experimentally verified the ultrafast photocarrier dynamics in Bi 2 O 2 Se, [34] implying its great potential for optoelectronics.…”

“…Huang and Yu [33] combined lithium intercalation with liquid phase shear exfoliation and prepared few-layer Bi 2 O 2 Se nanoflakes (Figure 4a-d) with average lateral size of 47 nm and thickness of 2.8 nm. Apart from nanosheet structures, uniform Bi 2 O 2 Se quantum dots are also available via grounding and liquid ultrasonic exfoliation in N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone (NMP) [15] (as illustrated in Figure 4e). The obtained Bi 2 O 2 Se QDs are mainly triple-layered structure with a common size of 3.8 nm (Figure 4f-j).…”

Photo‐ and Magnetothermally Responsive Nanomaterials for Therapy, Controlled Drug Delivery and Imaging Applications

“…Their QDs, 3.8 nm in size and 1.9 nm in thickness, had excellent photothermal stability and high photothermal conversion function (about 35.7 %). Biodegradable Bi 2 O 2 Se QDs showed good stability during in vivo circulation to harmlessly discarded from the body [26] …”

Inorganic Nanomaterials for Photothermal‐Based Cancer Theranostics

“…Briefly, by using a straightforward top-down method, Shao's group synthesized the 3.8 nm Bi 2 O 2 Se QDs and these QDs showed a high PCE (35.7%) and good photothermal stability as well as exhibiting an excellent PTT efficiency both in vitro and in vivo. [13] In addition, PbS/CdS/ZnS quantum dots [126] can also serve as PTAs.…”

“…[7] Inorganic nanomaterials are promising alternatives owing to their chemical and thermal stability, facile surface functionalization, controllable structure, and morphology. [8] Up to now, different inorganic materials, such as silicon, [9] gold, [10] carbon, [11] transition metals [12] and hybrid nanomaterials [13] have been studied as PTAs and presented promising applications as novel theranostics in cancer treatments and imaging.…”