Enhanced photothermal therapy for tumor ablation: structural and functional insights into Bi2Se3 nanosheets as Light-to-Heat converter

• Published in: Discover nano Vol. 20; no. 1; pp. 106 - 13
• Main Authors: Wu, Ming-Chung, Chang, Yin-Hsuan, Lin, Ting-Han, Wu, Chun-Yuan, Chang, Jia-Mao, Lu, Yu-Jen
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York Springer US 07.07.2025; Springer Nature B.V; Springer
• Subjects: Ablation; Bi2Se3 nanosheets; Biocompatibility; Cancer; Cancer therapies; Chemistry and Materials Science; Chemotherapy; Crystallography; Experiments; Heat; Laboratory animals; Light; Light effects; Materials Science; Microscopy; Molecular Medicine; Morphology; Nanochemistry; Nanomaterials; Nanoscale Science and Technology; Nanosheets; Nanotechnology; Nanotechnology and Microengineering; Photothermal conversion; Photothermal conversion efficiency; Photothermal therapy (PTT); Solvothermal synthesis; Structure-function relationships; Temperature; Therapy; Thermal properties; Thermal stability; Thermodynamic properties; Tumors; Se; Photothermal therapy (PTT); Bi; Solvothermal synthesis; Photothermal conversion efficiency; Thermal stability; nanosheets
• ISSN: 2731-9229; 1931-7573; 2731-9229; 1556-276X
• DOI: 10.1186/s11671-025-04289-5

Photothermal therapy (PTT) represents a promising advance in oncological treatments, utilizing light-induced heat mediated by photothermal agents to target and destroy cancer cells with high precision. Despite its potential, the clinical application of PTT is often limited by the efficiency of photothermal agents and their biocompatibility, highlighting a crucial need for novel materials that can safely and effectively convert light into therapeutic heat. This study demonstrates the two-dimensional Bi 2 Se 3 nanosheets with tailored nanostructure via a solvothermal process. This study controls over their structural and photothermal properties by accurately optimizing synthesis conditions. In situ experiments provide insights into the crystallographic and phonon characteristics at varying temperatures, underscoring the thermal stability of Bi 2 Se 3 nanosheets. Notably, these nanosheets demonstrate a high photothermal conversion efficiency, rapidly raising the tumor site temperature to 53.1 °C within 180 s, resulting in rapid tumor cell ablation. Significant tumor growth suppression is also observed, with the median survival of mice treated with the particle and light combination extending to 34 days. These findings confirm the stable in vivo thermal properties of Bi 2 Se 3 nanosheets, establishing them as a potent candidate for future photothermal therapy applications.