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Updated: Dec 24, 2025
Author Spotlight: Advancing Bioimaging and Therapy with Functional Nanomaterials
Published on: September 13, 2024
NIR-driven graphitic-phase carbon nitride nanosheets for efficient bioimaging and photodynamic therapy
Lili Feng1, Fei He, Guixin Yang
1Key Laboratory of Superlight Materials and Surface Technology, Ministry of Education, College of Material Sciences and Chemical Engineering, Harbin Engineering University, Harbin, 150001, P. R. China. yangpiaoping@hrbeu.edu.cn hefei1@hrbeu.edu.cn.
New nanocomposites combine graphitic carbon nitride (g-C3N4) with upconversion nanoparticles (UCNPs) for enhanced photodynamic therapy (PDT). These materials utilize near-infrared light to generate reactive oxygen species, effectively targeting and destroying cancer cells with low toxicity.
Area of Science:
- Biomedical Engineering
- Materials Science
- Nanotechnology
Background:
- Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is a noninvasive cancer treatment using photosensitizers to generate reactive oxygen species (ROS).
- Graphitic carbon nitride (g-C3N4) shows promise as a biocompatible photosensitizer but has limited near-infrared (NIR) absorption.
- Upconversion nanoparticles (UCNPs) can convert NIR light into higher-energy photons.
Purpose of the Study:
- To design novel NIR light-excited nanocomposites (g-C3N4/UCNP NCs) for improved PDT.
- To overcome the narrow absorption limitation of g-C3N4 in the NIR region.
- To evaluate the efficacy of these nanocomposites for cancer treatment and bioimaging.
Main Methods:
- Synthesized g-C3N4 nanosheets and UCNPs.
- Fabricated g-C3N4/UCNP nanocomposites.
- Investigated the photophysical properties and ROS generation under NIR laser irradiation.
- Assessed the anticancer efficacy and apoptosis induction in cancer cells.
Main Results:
- The g-C3N4/UCNP NCs efficiently converted NIR light to UV/visible emissions, matching g-C3N4 absorption.
- NIR laser excitation of the nanocomposites induced significant ROS generation within cancer cells.
- The nanocomposites effectively suppressed tumor cell growth and induced apoptosis.
- Demonstrated potential for dual-mode imaging (down/up-conversion luminescence).
Conclusions:
- g-C3N4/UCNP NCs represent a novel and effective platform for NIR-activated PDT.
- These nanocomposites offer a low-toxic and biocompatible approach for cancer therapy.
- The designed materials hold potential for combined therapeutic and diagnostic applications.
