Bifunctional Carbon-Dot-WS2Nanorods for Photothermal Therapy and Cell Imaging

The controllable synthesis of multi-color carbon quantum dots modified by polythiophene and their application in fluorescence detection of Au3+ and Hg2

Herein, hydrothermal method was used to prepare a series of multi-color polythiophene modified carbon quantum dots. Under UV excitation, fluorescence their maximum emission wavelengths appear at 612 nm, 570 nm, and 540 nm respectively. The prepared CD-BTH and CD-BN can have specific detection of Au3+ and Hg2+ through fluorescence quenching effect. The detection limits for Au3+ are 3 nM and 5.4 nM respectively, and for Hg2+ are 23 nM and 90 nM respectively. CD-KN detects Au3+ specifically through fluorescence resonance, with a detection limit of 33 nM. Under the interference of other metal ions, three types of polythiophene modified quantum carbon dots exhibit excellent selectivity for the responsive ions. Meanwhile, this article also elucidates the law that as the electron withdrawing ability of the side chains of polythiophene derivatives increasing, the fluorescence emission peaks of the prepared polythiophene modified carbon dots shifts red and the fluorescence quantum yield is higher.

Novel Chemo-Photothermal Therapy in Hepatic Cancer Using Gemcitabine-Loaded Hyaluronic Acid Conjugated MoS2/ZnO Nanocomposites

Hepatocellular carcinoma is a serious illness with a high rate of mortality. A high dose of theranostic drugs with efficient diagnostic and therapeutic capabilities should be required. Chemo-photothermal therapy is presently recognized as a secure method of cancer treatment that specifically targets tumour tissue or cells. Additionally, the success of cancer therapy is increased by the use of targeted nanoparticles. The current study aims to investigate the interaction between phototherapy and the anti-hepatocellular carcinoma treatment combination HA-GEM-MoS2/ZnO nanocomposites (NCs) loaded with gemcitabine and molybdenum disulphide. NCs were synthesized and characterized using FT-IR, XRD, TEM, and DLS analyses. The present investigation shows that the synthesized HA-MoS2/ZnO nanocomposites were elongated spherical in shape and their sizes ranged from 62.3 to 75.7 nm according to the estimation using XRD results, which is consistent with TEM findings. Further, HA-MoS2/ZnO nanocomposites could effectively encapsulate the GEM, showing dual pH and thermal triggered drug release behaviour. The result of cell uptake tests clearly demonstrated improved cellular uptake of synthesized nanocomposites following HA and GEM-loaded NCs in hepatocellular carcinoma cell lines. In addition, combination therapies caused the highest incidence of cell death in hepatocellular carcinoma, according to cytotoxicity experiments and showed a good compatibility. In vitro studies prove that HA-GEM-MoS2/ZnO nanocomposites enhanced tumour treatment that combines chemotherapy and photothermal therapy to remove the tumour and prevent relapses. Still, no studies have been done to see if gemcitabine-encapsulated HA-MoS2/ZnO NCs inhibit human hepatocellular carcinoma cell. Hence, the current study can give a new paradigm for the diagnosis and treatment of cancer and the outcome may be helpful to improve the quality of cancer patient's life.

Unleashing the potential of tungsten disulfide: Current trends in biosensing and nanomedicine applications

The discovery of graphene ignites a great deal of interest in the research and advancement of two-dimensional (2D) layered materials. Within it, semiconducting transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDCs) are highly regarded due to their exceptional electrical and optoelectronic properties. Tungsten disulfide (WS2) is a TMDC with intriguing properties, such as biocompatibility, tunable bandgap, and outstanding photoelectric characteristics. These features make it a potential candidate for chemical sensing, biosensing, and tumor therapy. Despite the numerous reviews on the synthesis and application of TMDCs in the biomedical field, no comprehensive study still summarizes and unifies the research trends of WS2 from synthesis to biomedical applications. Therefore, this review aims to present a complete and thorough analysis of the current research trends in WS2 across several biomedical domains, including biosensing and nanomedicine, covering antibacterial applications, tissue engineering, drug delivery, and anticancer treatments. Finally, this review also discusses the potential opportunities and obstacles associated with WS2 to deliver a new outlook for advancing its progress in biomedical research.

Trends and prospects of 2-D tungsten disulphide (WS2) hybrid nanosystems for environmental and biomedical applications

Recently, 2D layered transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDCs) with their ultrathin sheet nanostructure and diversified electronic structure have drawn attention for various advanced applications to achieve high-performance parameters. Unique 2D TMDCs mainly comprise transition metal and chalcogen element where chalcogen element layers sandwich the transition metal element layer. In such a case, various properties can be enhanced and controlled depending on the targeted application. Among manipulative 2D TMDCs, tungsten disulphide (WS2) is one of the emerging nano-system due to its fascinating properties in terms of direct band gap, higher mobility, strong photoluminescence, good thermal stability, and strong magnetic field interaction. The advancement in characterization techniques, especially scattering techniques, can help in study of opto-electronic properties of 2D TMDCs along with determination of layer variations and investigation of defect. In this review, the fabrication and applications are well summarized to optimize an appropriate WS2-TMDCs assembly according to focused field of research. Here, the scientific investigations on 2D WS2 are studied in terms of its structure, role of scattering techniques to study its properties, and synthesis routes followed by its potential applications for environmental remediation (e.g., photocatalytic degradation of pollutants, gas sensing, and wastewater treatment) and biomedical domain (e.g., drug delivery, photothermal therapy, biomedical imaging, and biosensing). Further, a special emphasis is given to the significance of 2D WS2 as a substrate for surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS). The discussion is further extended to commercial and industrial aspects, keeping in view major research gaps in existing research studies.

Fluorescent Carbon Dot-Supported Imaging-Based Biomedicine: A Comprehensive Review

Carbon dots (CDs) provide distinctive advantages of strong fluorescence, good photostability, high water solubility, and outstanding biocompatibility, and thus are widely exploited as potential imaging agents for in vitro and in vivo bioimaging. Imaging is absolutely necessary when discovering the structure and function of cells, detecting biomarkers in diagnosis, tracking the progress of ongoing disease, treating various tumors, and monitoring therapeutic efficacy, making it an important approach in modern biomedicine. Numerous investigations of CDs have been intensively studied for utilization in bioimaging-supported medical sciences. However, there is still no article highlighting the potential importance of CD-based bioimaging to support various biomedical applications. Herein, we summarize the development of CDs as fluorescence (FL) nanoprobes with different FL colors for potential bioimaging-based applications in living cells, tissue, and organisms, including the bioimaging of various cell types and targets, bioimaging-supported sensing of metal ions and biomolecules, and FL imaging-guided tumor therapy. Current CD-based microscopic techniques and their advantages are also highlighted. This review discusses the significance of advanced CD-supported imaging-based in vitro and in vivo investigations, suggests the potential of CD-based imaging for biomedicine, and encourages the effective selection and development of superior probes and platforms for further biomedical applications.

Synergic Effect of Novel WS2 Carriers Holding Spherical Cobalt Ferrite @cubic Fe3O4 (WS2/s-CoFe2O4@c-Fe3O4) Nanocomposites in Magnetic Resonance Imaging and Photothermal Therapy for Ocular Treatments and Investigation of Corneal Endothelial Cell Migration

The design of novel materials to use simultaneously in an ocular system for driven therapeutics and wound healing is still challenging. Here, we produced nanocomposites of tungsten disulfide carriers with spherical cobalt ferrite nanoparticles (NPs) as core inside a cubic iron oxide NPs shell (WS2/s-CoFe2O4@c-Fe3O4). Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) confirmed that 10 nm s-CoFe2O4@c-Fe3O4 NPs were attached on the WS2 sheet surfaces. The cytotoxicity of the WS2 sheets and nanocomposites were evaluated on bovine cornea endothelial cells (BCECs) using 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay for a duration of three days. The MTT assay results showed low toxicity of the WS2 sheets on BCECs by 67% cell viability at 100 μg/mL in 24 h, while the nanocomposites show 50% cell viability in the same conditions. The magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of nanocomposites revealed the excellent T2-weighted imaging with an r2 contrast of 108 mM-1 S-1. The in vitro photothermal therapy based on WS2 sheets and WS2/s-CoFe2O4 @c-Fe3O4 nanocomposites using 808 nm laser showed that the maximum thermal energy dispatched in medium at different applied power densities (1200 mw, 1800, 2200, 2600 mW) was for 0.1 mg/mL of the sample solution. The migration assay of BCECs showed that the wound healing was approximately 20% slower for the cell exposed by nanocomposites compared with the control (no exposed BCECs). We believe that WS2/s-CoFe2O4@c-Fe3O4 nanocomposites have a synergic effect as photothermal therapy agents for eye diseases and could be a target in an ocular system using MRI.

Intelligent MoS2-CuO heterostructures with multiplexed imaging and remarkably enhanced antitumor efficacy via synergetic photothermal therapy/ chemodynamic therapy/ immunotherapy

Rational design of biocompatible nanoplatforms simultaneously realizing multimodal imaging and therapeutic functions is meaningful to cancer treatment. Herein, the MoS₂-CuO heteronanocomposites are designed by integrating semiconductor CuO and flower-like MoS₂ via a two-step hydrothermal method. After loading bovine serum albumin (BSA) and immunoadjuvant imiquimod (R837), the obtained MoS₂-CuO@BSA/R837 (MCBR) nanoplatforms realize the excellent computed tomography/infrared thermal/magnetic resonance multi-mode bioimaging as well as significantly enhanced antitumor efficacy of synergetic photothermal therapy (PTT)/chemodynamic therapy (CDT)/immunotherapy. In this nanoplatform, the semiconductor CuO exhibits peroxidase-like activity, which can react with over-expressed H₂O₂ in tumor microenvironment (TME) to generate OH for CDT via Haber-Weiss and Fenton-like reactions. And this process can be further accelerated by the generated heat of MoS₂ under 808 nm laser irradiation. More importantly, the obtained multifunctional MCBR nanoplatforms under near-infrared (NIR) irradiation would destroy tumor cells to generate tumor associated antigens (TAAs), which combine with R837 as an adjuvant to trigger strong antitumor immune responses for effectively eliminating primary tumors and metastatic tumors.

Recent Developments in Synthesis and Photocatalytic Applications of Carbon Dots

The tunable photoluminescent and photocatalytic properties of carbon dots (CDs) via chemical surface modification have drawn increased attention to this emerging class of carbon nanomaterials. Herein, we summarize the advances in CD synthesis and modification, with a focus on surface functionalization, element doping, passivation, and nanocomposite formation with metal oxides, transition metal chalcogenides, or graphitic carbon nitrides. The effects of CD size and functionalization on photocatalytic properties are discussed, along with the photocatalytic applications of CDs in energy conversion, water splitting, hydrogen evolution, water treatment, and chemical degradation. In particular, the enzyme-mimetic and photodynamic applications of CDs for bio-related uses are thoroughly reviewed.

Electrocatalytic synthesis of black tin oxide nanomaterial as photothermal agent for cancer therapy

Photothermal therapy (PTT) is among the popular approach for treating solid tumours. The rapid killing of cancer cells under the influence of infrared radiation by a rapid increase in the temperature of the remote area now demands external agents with high photothermal transduction efficiency (PTE). Despite their improved PTE, black nanomaterials such as black phosphorus and titanium oxide are unable to meet the challenges in the physiological conditions. To address this major concern, we have developed black tin oxide (bSnO) with enhanced capabilities to respond in the physiological milieu. To make the synthesis cost-effective and eco-friendly, we have used electrochemical oxidation at 5 V and 100 mA to achieve ∼15 nm nanoparticle of bSnO. The as-synthesized bSnO exhibited high NIR absorption as well as high photothermal transduction efficiency. To circumvent the low aqueous solubility and photostability, bSnO was functionalized with polyethyleneimine (PEI). Upon exposure to 808 nm laser for ∼8-10 min, the temperature of the bSnO@PEI solution reached ∼58.5 °C. PTE of bSnO@PEI was calculated to be 51.2%. Owing to its high biological compatibility, tin offers relatively better stability when exposed to cancer cells in vitro and in vivo. In comparison to other black nanomaterials, bSnO@PEI was found to exhibit better response under NIR irradiance for non-invasive photothermal therapy of cancer.

Tungsten disulfide-based nanocomposites for photothermal therapy

Nanostructures of transition-metal dichalcogenides (TMDC) have raised scientific interest in the last few decades. Tungsten disulfide (WS2) nanotubes and nanoparticles are among the most extensively studied members in this group, and are used for, e.g., polymer reinforcement, lubrication and electronic devices. Their biocompatibility and low toxicity make them suitable for medical and biological applications. One potential application is photothermal therapy (PTT), a method for the targeted treatment of cancer, in which a light-responsive material is irradiated with a laser in the near-infrared range. In the current article we present WS2 nanotubes functionalized with previously reported ceric ammonium nitrate-maghemite (CAN-mag) nanoparticles, used for PTT. Functionalization of the nanotubes with CAN-mag nanoparticles resulted in a magnetic nanocomposite. When tested in vitro with two types of cancer cells, the functionalized nanotubes showed a better PTT activity compared to non-functionalized nanotubes, as well as reduced aggregation and the ability to add a second-step functionality. This ability is demonstrated here with two polymers grafted onto the nanocomposite surface, and other functionalities could be additional cancer therapy agents for achieving increased therapeutic activity.

Recent Advances in Carbon Nanomaterials for Cancer Phototherapy

Carbon nanomaterials have received great attention from the scientific community over the past few decades because of their unique physical and chemical properties. In this minireview, we will summarize the recent progress of the use of various carbon nanomaterials in the field of cancer phototherapy. The structural characteristics of each category and the surface functionalization strategies of these nanomaterials will be briefly introduced before focusing on their therapeutic applications. Recent advances on their use in photothermal therapy, photodynamic therapy, and combined phototherapies are presented. Moreover, a few challenges and perspectives on the development of carbon nanomaterials for future theranostics are also discussed.

Impact of functional inorganic nanotubes f-INTs-WS2 on hemolysis, platelet function and coagulation

Inorganic transition metal dichalcogenide nanostructures are interesting for several biomedical applications such as coating for medical devices (e.g. endodontic files, catheter stents) and reinforcement of scaffolds for tissue engineering. However, their impact on human blood is unknown. A unique nanomaterial surface-engineering chemical methodology was used to fabricate functional polyacidic polyCOOH inorganic nanotubes of tungsten disulfide towards covalent binding of any desired molecule/organic species via chemical activation/reactivity of this former polyCOOH shell. The impact of these nanotubes on hemolysis, platelet aggregation and blood coagulation has been assessed using spectrophotometric measurement, light transmission aggregometry and thrombin generation assays. The functionalized nanotubes do not induce hemolysis but decrease platelet aggregation and induce coagulation through intrinsic pathway activation. The functional nanotubes were found to be more thrombogenic than the non-functional ones, suggesting lower hemocompatibility and increased thrombotic risk with functionalized tungsten disulfide nanotubes. These functionalized nanotubes should be used with caution in blood-contacting devices.