PVP-Modified Multifunctional Bi₂WO₆ Nanosheets for Enhanced CT Imaging and Cancer Radiotherapy

Malignant tumors are one of the main causes of human death. The clinical treatment of malignant tumors is usually surgery, chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and so forth. Radiotherapy, as a traditional and effective treatment method for cancer, is widely used in clinical practice, but the radiation resistance of tumor cells and the toxic side effects to normal cells are still the Achilles heel of radiotherapy. Multifunctional inorganic high-atom nanomaterials are expected to enhance the effect of tumor radiotherapy. Tungsten and bismuth, which contain elements with high atomic coefficients, have strong X-ray energy attenuation capability. We synthesized Bi₂WO₆ nanosheets (NSs) using a hydrothermal synthesis method and modified polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) on their surface to make them more stable. PVP-Bi₂WO₆ NSs have a variety of effects after absorbing X-rays (such as the photoelectric effect and Compton effect) and release a variety of particles such as photoelectrons, Compton electrons, auger electrons, and so forth, which can react with organic molecules or water in cells, generate a large number of free radicals, and promote cell apoptosis, thereby improving the effect of radiotherapy. We show through γ-H2AX and DCFH-DA probe analysis experiments that PVP-Bi₂WO₆ NSs can effectively increase cell DNA damage and reactive oxygen species formation under X-ray irradiation. Clone formation analysis showed that PVP-Bi₂WO₆ NSs can effectively suppress cell colony formation under X-ray irradiation. These versatile functions endow PVP-Bi₂WO₆ NSs with enhanced radiotherapy efficacy in animal models. In addition, PVP-Bi₂WO₆ NSs can also be used as contrast agents for X-ray computed tomography (CT) imaging with obvious effects. Therefore, PVP-Bi₂WO₆ NSs can be used as CT imaging contrast agents and tumor radiotherapy sensitizers and have potential medical applications.