title: PEGylated nickel carbide nanocrystals as efficient near-infrared laser induced photothermal therapy for treatment of cancer cells in vivo.
abstract: Photothermal therapy has attracted significant attention as a minimally invasive therapy methodology. In this work, we report PEGylated nickel carbide nanocrystals (Ni3C NCs) as an efficient photothermal agent for the first time. The nanoparticles exhibit a broad absorption from the visible to the near-infrared regions and a rapid rise in temperature when irradiated by an 808 nm laser even at a concentration of 100 μg mL(-1). In vitro and in vivo cytotoxicity assays demonstrate they have good biocompatibility, which lays an important foundation for their biological application. In vitro studies reveal the efficient damage of cancer cells by the exposure of 808 nm laser with a power density of 0.50 W cm(-2). Furthermore, hematoxylin and eosin (H & E) and terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase biotin-dUTP nick-end labeling (TUNEL) staining of tumor slices confirmed the obvious destruction of cancer cells in vivo by an 808 nm laser (0.50 W cm(-2)) after only a 5 min application. Our work may open up a new application domain for transition metal carbides for biomedicine.
authors.affiliation: The Education Ministry Key Lab of Resource Chemistry and Shanghai Key Laboratory of Rare Earth Functional Materials, Shanghai Normal University, Shanghai 200234, China.
authors.forename: Zhiguo
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.forename: Jun
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Wei
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Chao
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Yu
authors.forename: Bin
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Kong
authors.forename: Yanan
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Sun
authors.forename: Hong
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Shiping
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Wei
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Wang
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001672:Biocompatible Materials / Q000737:chemistry; D002244:Carbon / Q000737:chemistry*; D006367:HeLa Cells; D006801:Humans; D020287:In Situ Nick-End Labeling; D007834:Lasers; D008024:Ligands; D008670:Metals / Q000737:chemistry; D051379:Mice; D008819:Mice, Nude; D018613:Microscopy, Confocal; D053758:Nanoparticles / Q000737:chemistry*; D009368:Neoplasm Transplantation; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000628:therapy*; D009532:Nickel / Q000737:chemistry*; D010777:Photochemistry; D010789:Phototherapy; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols / Q000737:chemistry*; D051381:Rats; D019265:Spectroscopy, Near-Infrared
chemical_list: D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D008024:Ligands; D008670:Metals; C510647:nickel carbide; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols; D002244:Carbon; D009532:Nickel