Engineering Eu3+-incorporated MoS2 nanoflowers toward efficient photothermal/photodynamic combination therapy of breast cancer

Abstract

Two-dimensional MoS2 (2D-MoS2) and its nanocomposites have been extensively studied in cancer therapy research since their prominent surface area and NIR absorption ability. In this work, Eu3+-incorporated MoS2 (MoS2:Eu3+) nanoflowers with enhanced photothermal conversion efficiency (PCE) were successfully developed by a one-step bottom-up hydrothermal method. Under 808 nm near-infrared (NIR) laser irradiation, the photothermal agents MoS2:5%Eu3+ nanoflowers have a PCE at ~ 49.05%, which is 1.75 times higher than the pristine MoS2. MoS2:5%Eu3+ as efficient photosensitizers also promote generation of cytotoxic reactive oxygen species (ROS) under 808 nm laser irradiation, thus achieving photodynamic therapy (PDT) for cancers at the same time. Enhanced in vitro breast cancer therapy through the combination of photothermal therapy (PTT) and PDT is clearly proved by using the MoS2:Eu3+ nanosheet as a multifunctional nanoprobe. The unique MoS2:Eu3+ works as a promising nanoprobe for PDT/PTT cancer therapies, and also provides a novel strategy for PCE improvement of the 2D-MoS2.