title: Two-dimensional TiS₂ nanosheets for in vivo photoacoustic imaging and photothermal cancer therapy.
abstract: Recently, transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDCs) have attracted significant attention in nanomedicine owing to their intriguing properties. In this study, TiS2 nanosheets, a new TMDC nanomaterial, are synthesized by a bottom-up solution-phase method and then modified with polyethylene glycol (PEG), obtaining TiS2-PEG with high stability in physiological solutions and no appreciable in vitro toxicity. Due to their high absorbance in the near-infrared (NIR) region, TiS2-PEG nanosheets could offer a strong contrast in photoacoustic imaging, which uncovers the high tumor uptake and retention of these nanosheets after systemic administration into tumor-bearing mice. We further apply TiS2-PEG nanosheets for in vivo photothermal therapy, which are able to completely eradicate the tumors in mice upon intravenous injection of TiS2-PEG followed by NIR laser irradiation. Our work indicates that TiS2 nanosheets with appropriate surface coating (e.g. PEGylation) would be a promising new class of photothermal agents for imaging-guided cancer therapy.
authors.affiliation: Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Carbon-Based Functional Materials & Devices, Institute of Functional Nano & Soft Materials Laboratory (FUNSOM), Collaborative Innovation Center of Suzhou Nano Science and Technology, Soochow University, Suzhou, Jiangsu 215123, China. lcheng2@suda.edu.cn.
authors.forename: Xiaoxin
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Qian
authors.forename: Sida
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Shen
authors.forename: Teng
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Liang
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Cheng
authors.forename: Zhuang
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Liu
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D005260:Female; D008325:Mammary Neoplasms, Experimental / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D053758:Nanoparticles / Q000737:chemistry*; D061088:Photoacoustic Techniques; D010789:Phototherapy; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology; D014025:Titanium / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: C061975:titanium sulfide; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols; D014025:Titanium; C000595209:polyethylene glycol 1000