Two‐Dimensional Antimonene‐Based Photonic Nanomedicine for Cancer Theranostics

Abstract

Antimonene (AM) is a recently described two-dimensional (2D) elemental layered material. In this study, a novel photonic drug-delivery platform based on 2D PEGylated AM nanosheets (NSs) is developed. The platform's multiple advantages include: i) excellent photothermal properties, ii) high drug-loading capacity, iii) spatiotemporally controlled drug release triggered by near-infrared (NIR) light and moderate acidic pH, iv) superior accumulation at tumor sites, v) deep tumor penetration by both extrinsic stimuli (i.e., NIR light) and intrinsic stimuli (i.e., pH), vi) excellent multimodal-imaging properties, and vii) significant inhibition of tumor growth with no observable side effects and potential degradability, thus addressing several key limitations of cancer nanomedicines. The intracellular fate of the prepared NSs is also revealed for the first time, providing deep insights that improve cellular-level understanding of the nano-bio interactions of AM-based NSs and other emerging 2D nanomaterials. To the best of knowledge, this is the first report on 2D AM-based photonic drug-delivery platforms, possibly marking an exciting jumping-off point for research into the application of 2D AM nanomaterials in cancer theranostics.

2D Nanomaterials for Cancer Theranostic Applications

“…Importantly, the NIR‐induced rapid degradation behavior of AM nanodots further highlighted their potential safe use for biomedical applications. The 2D structure of AM nanosheets can also be utilized as a drug‐delivery platform for multimodal‐imaging‐guided cancer theranostics (Figure B) . PEG‐coated AM nanosheets have an excellent PTCE (≈41.8%) and could be employed as an efficient drug delivery carrier to load DOX, useful for combined chemo‐PTT therapy of cancer.…”

“…B) 2D antimonene‐PEG/DOX nanosheets as photonic nanomedicines for multimodal‐imaging‐guided cancer theranostics. Reproduced with permission . Copyright 2018, Wiley‐VCH.…”

“…Notably, 2D nanomaterials typically possess exceptional physicochemical properties, which may be different from their nanoparticle and bulk counterparts owing to their large surface area, unique surface chemistry, and quantum size effect . The advent of graphene and its promising applications in various fields have led researchers to explore the applications and related properties of other types of 2D nanomaterials, such as transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDs), transition metal carbides, nitrides and carbonitrides (MXenes), black phosphorus (BP) nanosheets, layered double hydroxides (LDHs), 2D metal–organic frameworks (MOFs), Pd nanosheets, hexagonal boron nitride (hBN) nanosheets, antimonene (AM) nanosheets, and 2D boron (B) nanosheets . To date, many strategies have been developed to construct different types of 2D nanomaterials, including hydrothermal/solvothermal methods, chemical vapor deposition (CVD), liquid‐phase exfoliation, and mechanical exfoliation .…”

Solar‐Inspired Water Purification Based on Emerging 2D Materials: Status and Challenges

“…The group V Xenes belong to semiconductors with tunable bandgaps, which endow them suitable for light‐absorption systems. Phosphorene and antimonene are two mostly studied photothermal agents in group V. However, the photothermal reports mainly focused on the biomedical field, i.e., photothermal cancer therapy, because of their excellent performance in photothermal conversion and photodegradability. There are only a few reports on phosphorene/antimonene‐based photothermal evaporation.…”

Emerging Two‐Dimensional Nanomaterials for Cancer Therapy

“…For example, nanomaterial with a size of <100 nm in diameter is suitable for tumor targeting drug delivery in animal models in regards to pharmacokinetics, tumor permeation, and accumulation . In a broader scheme, while smaller nanomaterials have advantages in tumor penetration with less hindrance in diffusion, nanoparticles with a hydrodynamic diameter less than 6 nm are typically subject to renal clearance; thus they have limited blood circulation …”