Two-dimensional silicene photodynamic tumor-targeting nanomedicine
Huican Duan, Meiqi Chang, Han Lin, Hui Huang, Wei Feng, Weitao Guo, Lina Wu, Yu Chen, Ruifang Zhang
Abstract
Since the innovative development of photosensitizers (PSs) is pivotal prerequisite for the successful clinical translation of photodynamic therapy (PDT), the unresolved challenges of classical PSs such as photobleaching, poor bioavailability, lack of tumor selectivity encourage the exploitation of new-generation PSs. In this work, we develop silicene nanosheets with unparalleled physiochemical nature and intriguing biocompatibility as the distinct two-dimensional (2D) nanoscale photosensitizer based on the mechanism of wet-chemical synthetic approach to achieve effective PDT-based tumor nanotherapy. The generation capacities of singlet oxygen ( 1 O 2 ) in different atmospheres have been systematically explored in depth. Furthermore, the conjunction of c (RGDyC) onto 2D silicene nanosheets (denoted as SRGD) endows the SRGD nanomedicines with specific targeting properties to α v β 3 integrin-overexpressed cancer cells, accomplishing in vivo and in vitro potent tumor growth inhibition efficiency. More notably, the excellent light absorption capacity of 2D silicene enables the tumor-specific photoacoustic imaging for potentiating the therapeutic guidance and monitoring. This paradigm can inspire the future design and applications of 2D silicene-based cancer-theranostic nanoplatform in biology and medicine. • Fabrication of 2D silicene based on a facile and efficient wet-chemical synthesis strategy. • Desirable 1 O 2 generation by 2D silicene for inducing mitochondrial depolarization and cancer-cell apoptosis. • c (RGDyC)-targeting engineering for endowing 2D silicene photodynamic nanomedicines with specific tumor-targeting performance. • 2D silicene-targeting nanomedicine with the specific capability and high performance for photoacoustic imaging-guided photodynamic tumor nanotherapy.