Integration of optical imaging modality with photothermal therapy (PTT) for simultaneously providing oncotherapy and bioimaging enables an optimized therapeutic efficacy and higher treatment accuracy and therefore has emerged as a prospective cancer treatment. However, it remains challenging to develop biocompatible PTT nanoagents capable of imaging, monitoring, and diagnosis. Carbon dots (CDs) possess unique photoluminescent (PL) properties and intrinsic biocompatibility; while Prussian blue nanoparticles (PBNPs) are nontoxic with efficient photothermal conversion capacity for PTT. Herein, a simple, cost-effective, and environmentally benign method was developed to strategically fabricate CD-decorated PBNP (CDs/PBNP) nanocomposites with satellite/core structure. The CDs/PBNPs possess distinct green PL emission and near-infrared photoabsorption with high efficiency and photothermal stability. In vitro and in vivo toxicity tests prove the biocompatibility of the CDs/PBNPs. Moreover, the applicability of CDs/PBNPs as nanotheranostic agents was tested, which suggests that CDs/PBNPs possess promising imaging and effective tumor ablation properties.
Keywords: carbon dots/Prussian blue nanoparticles (CDs/PBNPs); optical imaging; photoluminescence; photothermal conversion; photothermal therapy.