Ultrasmall AgTe Quantum Dots with Rapid Clearance for Amplified Computed Tomography Imaging and Augmented Photonic Tumor Hyperthermia.

With the fast development of nanomedicine, the imaging-guided and photo-induced cancer monotherapies can efficiently eliminate tumor lesions, which are strongly dependent on the construction of versatile theranostic nanoplatforms. Among diverse photo-converting nanoplatforms, silver chalcogenide nanoparticles feature high biocompatibility, narrow band gaps, and tunable optical properties, yet AgTe-based nanosystems are still at a proof-of-concept stage, and the exploration of AgTe-based nanosystems suitable for photonic tumor hyperthermia is challenging. Herein, we report on the construction of versatile ultrasmall AgTe quantum dots (QDs) via a facile biomineralization strategy. Especially, these AgTe QDs with negligible toxicity and excellent biocompatibility were developed for X-ray computed tomography (CT) imaging-guided photonic tumor hyperthermia by near-infrared (NIR) activation. The fabricated AgTe QDs exhibited a high tumor suppression rate (94.3%) on 4T1 breast tumor animal models due to the high photothermal-conversion efficiency (50.5%). Mechanistically, AgTe QDs were promising potential CT imaging agents for imaging guidance and monitoring during photonic hyperthermia. Importantly, AgTe QDs were rapidly eliminated from the body via feces and urine because of their ultrasmall sizes. This work not only broadens the biomedical applications of silver chalcogenide-based theranostic nanosystems but also provides the paradigm of theranostic nanosystems with a photonic tumor hyperthermia effect and outstanding contrast enhancement of high-performance CT imaging.