Constructing Cu₇S₄@SiO₂/DOX Multifunctional Nanoplatforms for Synergistic Photothermal-Chemotherapy on Melanoma...

The integration of photothermal therapy and chemotherapy has been recognized to be an efficient strategy through the instant thermally ablation and long-term chemical inhibition, thus achieving high therapeutical effect. In the present work, we designed and prepared Cu₇S₄@SiO₂/DOX nanocomposites and used them as efficient nanoplatforms for synergistic photothermal-chemo therapy on melanoma tumors. The Cu₇S₄@SiO₂/DOX was constructed by firstly synthesizing Cu₇S₄ nanocrystals, then in situ growing SiO₂ shell on the surface of Cu₇S₄ nanocrystals, and finally loading DOX within SiO₂ shell. The Cu₇S₄@SiO₂/DOX was composed of Cu₇S₄ core as the photothermal transducer, SiO₂ shell as DOX carrier and DOX as the model of anticancer drug. Once exposed to a 1064 nm laser, the Cu₇S₄@SiO₂/DOX could simultaneous generate heat for photothermal therapy and accelerate the DOX release. When the Cu₇S₄@SiO₂/DOX was injected into the center of tumor, the tumor exhibit rapid temperature elevation once exposed to the NIR laser and the tumor growth is significantly inhibited through the synergistic photothermal-chemo therapy, in comparison to the limited therapeutical effect of photothermal therapy or chemotherapy alone. Therefore, the Cu₇S₄@SiO₂/DOX with photothermal-chemo function can be used as excellent nanoplatforms for treating solid tumor with high theoretical effect.