Technical Institute of Physics and Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100190, China.
Nanoscale. 2019 Feb 7;11(6):2655-2667. doi: 10.1039/c8nr08296k.
To date, photothermal sensitizers include organic and inorganic nanomaterials for biomedical applications. However, the impediments of low biodegradability and potential toxicity hinder their further applications in clinics. Liquid metal nanospheres show superior photothermal effects under near-infrared laser irradiation, in addition, a transformation in shape can be triggered, which also promotes biodegradability that helps to avoid potential systemic toxicity. Here, we fabricated tunable liquid metal nanoparticles having sphere-shaped to rod-shaped characteristics, resulting in good biocompatibility, favorable photothermal conversion efficiency, and targeting capability to tumors. The synthesis strategy is easy to achieve through one-step sonication. We systematically evaluated the photothermal properties of these liquid metal nanoparticles as well as their destructive effects on tumors in a quantitative way both in vitro and in vivo under laser exposure. Results have shown for the first time in mice that gallium nanorods, regulated and controlled through the production of GaO(OH), displayed outstanding photothermal conversion efficiency and exhibited distinct temperature elevation compared to gallium nanospheres and gallium-indium alloy nanorods. These shape transformable and biocompatible gallium nanorods establish the basis for the future laser ablation of tumors to achieve enhanced therapeutic outcomes. This shape tunability of a smart nano-liquid metal directly contributes to enhanced photothermal therapy in mice and opens new opportunities for potential applications with tumor therapy and imaging.
迄今为止，用于生物医学应用的光热敏化剂包括有机和无机纳米材料。然而，低生物降解性和潜在毒性的障碍阻碍了它们在临床上的进一步应用。液态金属纳米球在近红外激光照射下表现出优异的光热效应，此外，还可以触发形状的转变，这也促进了生物降解性，有助于避免潜在的全身毒性。在这里，我们通过一步超声法制备了具有球形到棒形特征的可调谐液态金属纳米颗粒，具有良好的生物相容性、良好的光热转换效率和对肿瘤的靶向能力。我们系统地评估了这些液态金属纳米颗粒的光热特性及其在激光照射下体外和体内对肿瘤的破坏作用。结果首次在小鼠中表明，通过 GaO(OH) 的产生来调节和控制的镓纳米棒表现出优异的光热转换效率，并表现出与镓纳米球和镓-铟合金纳米棒相比明显的温度升高。这些形状可变形和生物相容的镓纳米棒为未来通过激光烧蚀肿瘤以实现增强的治疗效果奠定了基础。这种智能纳米液态金属的形状可调性直接促进了小鼠的光热治疗，并为肿瘤治疗和成像的潜在应用开辟了新的机会。
