Biosynthetic Ag<sub>2</sub>S Nanoparticles for Photoacoustic Imaging-Guided Photothermal Therapy
Sutian Zhu, Weijian Song, Ya‐Ling He, Yuanyuan Wang, Xiaoying Li, Yingnan Wu, Xin Meng, Lin Chen, Wei Wang, Huaiyu Wang, Shuqiang Huang, Fei Yan, Litao Sun
Abstract
Photothermal therapy (PTT) is acknowledged as a promising approach to tumor treatment. However, the synthesis process of PTT agents usually uses physical or chemical methods with a series of complex steps involving environmentally unfriendly solvents. This study presents an innovative method that employs genetically modified bacteria to produce size-controllable Ag 2 S nanoparticles (30–80 nm) under moderate and eco-friendly conditions. The resulting Ag 2 S nanoparticles can serve as theranostic agents for photoacoustic imaging (PAI) and PTT. In vitro and in vivo assays reveal that biosynthesized Ag 2 S nanoparticles possess superior biocompatibility, stability, and minimal toxicity. Furthermore, the Ag 2 S nanoparticles demonstrate exceptional PA imaging performance and a remarkable photothermal conversion efficiency of 38.51% at 808 nm near-infrared laser, achieving efficient antitumor efficacy. The biosynthesized Ag 2 S nanoparticles offer advantages over traditional PTT agents, including high photothermal conversion efficiency, low toxicity, and high biocompatibility. Moreover, they can be used for both imaging and treatment, showing their great translational potential in future clinical applications. In conclusion, our research establishes a foundation for the biosynthesis of Ag 2 S nanoparticles, providing a potential PTT agent for cancer diagnosis and treatment applications.