Amorphous Ag2-xCuxS quantum dots: “all-in-one” theranostic nanomedicines for near-infrared fluorescence/photoacoustics dual-modal-imaging-guided photothermal therapy

Abstract Integrating dual-modal imaging and photothermal effect within a single nanosystem is an enormous challenge for current nanomedicine application. Herein, non-toxic amorphous Ag2-xCuxS quantum dots (QDs) possessing near-infrared fluorescence (NIRF), enhanced photothermal and photoacoustic (PA) performance, as “one-in-all” nanomedicines, are designed and obtained. Cu doping in amorphous Ag2S QDs causes red-shift of NIRF to the lowest tissue absorption wavelength in so called “first biowindow” (~820 nm) and improves photothermal conversion efficiency to 44.0% simultaneously. Density functional theory simulation results suggest the fluorescence red-shift and enhanced photothermal/photoacoustics properties can be attributed to the generation of intragap states introduced by Cu doping. The amorphous Ag2-xCuxS QDs exhibit high long-term biocompatibility. Under a single laser irradiation with relatively low power density, an effective tumor ablation induced by high photothermal effect of amorphous Ag2-xCuxS QDs is achieved in vivo. Simultaneously, the PTT process can be guided by high quality NIRF/PA dual-modal-imaging.