Ultrathin Black Phosphorus Nanosheets for Efficient Singlet Oxygen Generation.
Benefiting from its strong oxidizing properties, the singlet oxygen has garnered serious attentions in physical, chemical, as well as biological studies. However, the photosensitizers for the generation of singlet oxygen bear in low quantum yields, lack of long wavelength absorption band, poor biocompatibility, undegradable in living tissues, and so on. Here we first demonstrate the exfoliated black phosphorus nanosheets to be effective photosensitizers for the generation of singlet oxygen with a high quantum yield of about 0.91, rendering their attractive applications in catalysis and photodynamic therapy. Through in vitro and in vivo studies, the water dispersible black phosphorus nanosheets show notable cancer therapy ability. In addition, the photodegradable character of black phosphorus from element to biocompatible phosphorus oxides further highlights its therapeutic potential against cancer. This study will not only expand the breadth of study in black phosphorus but also offer an efficient catalyst and photodynamic therapy agent.
Hefei National Laboratory for Physical Science at the Microscale, Collaborative Innovation Center of Chemistry for Energy Materials, University of Science and Technology of China , Hefei 230026, Anhui, P. R. China.
Hui
H
Wang
School of Life Sciences, University of Science and Technology of China , Hefei 230027, Anhui, P. R. China.
Xianzhu
X
Yang
Hefei National Laboratory for Physical Science at the Microscale, Collaborative Innovation Center of Chemistry for Energy Materials, University of Science and Technology of China , Hefei 230026, Anhui, P. R. China.
Wei
W
Shao
Hefei National Laboratory for Physical Science at the Microscale, Collaborative Innovation Center of Chemistry for Energy Materials, University of Science and Technology of China , Hefei 230026, Anhui, P. R. China.
Shichuan
S
Chen
Hefei National Laboratory for Physical Science at the Microscale, Collaborative Innovation Center of Chemistry for Energy Materials, University of Science and Technology of China , Hefei 230026, Anhui, P. R. China.
Junfeng
J
Xie
Hefei National Laboratory for Physical Science at the Microscale, Collaborative Innovation Center of Chemistry for Energy Materials, University of Science and Technology of China , Hefei 230026, Anhui, P. R. China.
Xiaodong
X
Zhang
School of Life Sciences, University of Science and Technology of China , Hefei 230027, Anhui, P. R. China.
Jun
J
Wang
Hefei National Laboratory for Physical Science at the Microscale, Collaborative Innovation Center of Chemistry for Energy Materials, University of Science and Technology of China , Hefei 230026, Anhui, P. R. China.
Yi
Y
Xie