Tungsten Sulfide Quantum Dots as Multifunctional Nanotheranostics for <i>In Vivo</i> Dual-Modal Image-Guided Photothermal/Radiotherapy Synergistic Therapy

TLDR

Designing a multifunctional nanomedicine that integrates precise diagnosis and effective tumor treatment is desirable yet remains a great challenge. The study reports a multifunctional nanomedicine based on WS₂ quantum dots (QDs). The WS₂ QDs were produced by a facile, green method involving physical grinding and ultrasonication. The 3‑nm WS₂ QDs provide strong CT/PA imaging contrast and synergistic photothermal/radiotherapy that eradicates tumors in vivo with no detectable toxicity, demonstrating effective multimodal imaging and therapy.

Abstract

Designing a multifunctional nanomedicine for integration of precise diagnosis and effective treatment of tumors is desirable but remains a great challenge. Here, we report a multifunctional nanomedicine based on WS2 quantum dots (QDs), which was prepared by a facile and "green" method through physical grinding and ultrasonication. The as-obtained WS2 QDs with small size (3 nm) possess not only significant X-ray computed tomography (CT)/photoaccoustic (PA) imaging signal enhancement but also remarkable photothermal therapy (PTT)/radiotherapy (RT) synergistic effect for tumor treatment. With CT/PA imaging and the synergistic effect between PTT and RT, the tumor could be accurately positioned and thoroughly eradicated in vivo after intravenous injection of WS2 QDs. Moreover, hematoxylin and eosin staining, blood hematology, and biochemistry analysis revealed no noticeable toxicity of WS2 QDs in vitro and in vivo, which confirmed that WS2 QDs possess good biocompatibility. This multifunctional nanoparticle could play an important role in facilitating simultaneously multimodal imaging and synergistic therapy between PTT and RT to achieve better therapeutic efficacy.