Cell-borne 2D nanomaterials for efficient cancer targeting and photothermal therapy

Two of the challenges for clinical implementation of nano-therapeutic strategies are optimization of tumor targeting and clearance of the nanoagents in vivo. Herein, a cell-mediated therapy by transporting 2D Bi₂Se₃ nanosheets within macrophage vehicles is described. The Bi₂Se₃ nanosheets with excellent near-infrared photothermal performance exhibit high macrophage uptake and negligible cytotoxicity thus facilitating the fabrication of Bi₂Se₃-laden-macrophages. Compared with bare Bi₂Se₃, the Bi₂Se₃-laden-macrophages after intravenous injection show prolonged blood circulation and can overcome the hypoxia-associated drug delivery barrier to target the tumor efficiently and dramatically enhance the efficiency of photothermal cancer therapy. The Bi₂Se₃-laden-macrophages possess good biocompatibility as demonstrated by the biochemical and histological analyses and furthermore, most of the materials are excreted from the body within 25 days. Our findings reveal a desirable system for highly efficient near-infrared photothermal cancer therapy.