Rationally Designed Monodisperse Gd2O3/Bi2S3 Hybrid Nanodots for Efficient Cancer Theranostics

Multifunctional nanotheranostic agents are of particular importance in the field of precise nanomedicine. However, a critical challenge remains in the rational fabrication of monodisperse multicomponent nanoparticles with enhanced multifunctional characteristics for efficient cancer theranostics. Here, a rational and facile synthesis of monodisperse Gd2 O3 /Bi2 S3 hybrid nanodots (Gd/Bi-NDs) is demonstrated as a multifunctional nanotheranostic agent using a albumin nanoreactor for computed tomography (CT)/photoacoustics (PA)/magnetic resonance (MR) imaging and simultaneous photothermal tumor ablation. Two nanoprecipitation reactions in one albumin nanoreactor are simultaneously conducted to generate ultrasmall Gd/Bi-NDs with both orthorhombic Bi2 S3 and cubic Gd2 O3 nanostructures. Their hybrid nanostructure generates distinctly enhanced longitudinal relaxivity in the spatially confined albumin nanocage as compared to monocomponent Gd2 O3 nanodots. Moreover, such hybrid nanodots possess multiple desirable characteristics including superior photobleaching resistance, efficient cellular uptake, preferable tumor accumulation, good in vivo clearance, and negligible acute toxicity, thereby leading to complementary PA/CT/MR imaging with spatial and anatomic characteristics, as well as effective photothermal tumor ablation without regrowth. These results represent a promising approach to fabricate monodisperse multicomponent nanotheranostic agents for efficient cancer theranostics.