Decorated ultrathin bismuth selenide nanosheets as targeted theranostic agents for in vivo imaging guided cancer radiation therapy

Zhenhuan Song, Yanzhou Chang, Hanhan Xie, Xue-Feng Yu, Paul K Chu, Tianfeng Chen

Index: 10.1038/am.2017.167

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Abstract

An efficient radiotherapeutic agent is synthesized using ultrathin two-dimensional 30-nm-wide and 2-nm-thick Bi2Se3 nanosheets (NSs) as a radiosensitizer. Chitosan (CS) and RGD peptide are employed to enhance the radiotherapy efficiency and biocompatibility. The Bi2Se3-CS-RGD NSs exhibit excellent targeting ability to αvβ3 integrin-overexpressing cancer cells and potent radiosensitization efficiency with high stability. Detailed in vitro experiments show that the Bi2Se3-CS-RGD NSs enhance the sensitivity of HeLa cells to X-ray-induced cell death by inhibiting TrxR activities and activating downstream reactive oxygen species-mediated signaling pathways. In vivo experiments using intravenous or intratumor injection demonstrate that the Bi2Se3-CS-RGD NSs are more efficient tumor growth inhibitors compared to bare Bi2Se3 NSs. The multifunctionality of the NSs enables the use of photoacoustic imaging and magnetic resonance imaging to examine their targeting ability and therapeutic effects, respectively. In addition, the RGD-decorated Bi2Se3 NSs show much better in vivo biocompatibility and can be efficiently expelled from the body after 48 h post injection. This study reveals an effective and safe theranostic agent for next-generation cancer radiotherapy.