Recent Advances in Combination of Copper Chalcogenide-Based Photothermal and Reactive Oxygen Species-Related Therapies

Abstract

In recent times, the copper chalcogenide (Cu2–x E, E = S, Se, Te, 0 ≤ x ≤ 1)-based nanomaterials have emerged as potent photothermal agents for photothermal therapy (PTT) because of their advantageous features, such as the low cost, reduced toxicity, biodegradability, and strong absorption of near-infrared (NIR) light in a relatively wide range of wavelength. Nevertheless, the applicability of Cu2–x E-based PTT is limited because of its inadequate photothermal conversion efficiency, as well as insufficient destruction of the tumor area unexposed to the NIR laser. Fortunately, Cu2–x E nanomaterials also act as photosensitizers or Fenton-reaction catalysts to produce reactive oxygen species (ROS), referring to ROS-related therapy (RRT), which could further eradicate cancer cells to address the aforementioned limitations of PTT. Moreover, PTT improves RRT based on photodynamic therapy (PDT), sonodynamic therapy (SDT), chemodynamic therapy (CDT), and radiotherapy (RT) in different ways. Inspired by these facts, integrating Cu2–x E-based PTT with RRT into a single nanoplatform seems an ideal strategy to achieve synergistically therapeutic effects for cancer treatment. Herein, we discuss the synergetic mechanisms, composition, and performances of recent nanoplatforms for the combination of Cu2–x E-based PTT and RRT. In addition, we give a brief overview on some specific strategies for the further improvement of Cu2–x E-based PTT and RRT combined cancer treatment to enable the complete eradication of cancer cells, such as realizing the imaging-guided synergistic therapy, promoting deep tumor penetration of the nanosystems, and boosting O2 or H2O2 in the tumor microenvironment. Finally, we summarize with intriguing perspectives, focusing on the future tendencies for their clinical application.

Colloidal Nanoparticles of a Metastable Copper Selenide Phase with Near-Infrared Plasmon Resonance

“…This increase in charge carrier concentration allows for the material to sustain localized surface plasmon resonances, particularly in the NIR . Since the plasmon resonance frequency is heavily influenced by the charge carrier concentration, cation-deficient copper chalcogenides have received intense interest for their potential use as tunable absorbers for applications in sensing, bioimaging, and theranostics. − For example, berzelianite Cu 2– x Se nanoparticles exhibit an intense NIR plasmon band that blue-shifts from 1700 to 1100 nm, while also narrowing, upon gradual oxidation over the course of 60 min under ambient conditions . Wurtzite-like Cu 2– x Se nanoparticles undergo a similar oxidation process under ambient conditions, although they appear to be more resistant to oxidation, showing no NIR plasmon band until a week after exposure to ambient conditions …”

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“…It was seen from the TEM (Figure a) and SEM (Figure b) images that Cu–GSSG NPs were rod-shaped particles with a length of around 90 nm and a width of around 40 nm, while the size of the hydrated particle was around 220 nm (Figure c). According to the literature, ,, copper could be coordinated with nitrogen atoms derived from peptide bonds and amino groups, or with oxygen atoms formed by carboxylate groups or hydroxyl groups, or with sulfur atoms of cysteine. The characteristic peak of GSH was of S–H groups at 2522 cm –1 .…”

Nanodrugs Detonate Lysosome Bombs

“…Copper-based nanoparticles can be used in a wide range of acidic environments ( Jia et al, 2022 ) and exhibit a more efficient catalytic rate ( Zhao et al, 2020 ) as a Fenton reaction catalyst than traditional ferrous materials. Therefore, copper-based nanomaterials are wildly used in CDT-induced LMP.…”