ABSTRACT
Objective:To prepare hollow copper selenide nanoparticles (Cu 2- xSe NPs), and investigate their photothermal properties and radiotherapy sensitization performance. Methods:Hollow copper selenide nanoparticles (Cu 2- xSe NPs) were prepared by sacrificial template method with Cu 2O NPs as sacrificial templates and with selenium powder as selenium source. The surface of copper selenide nanoparticles (Cu 2- xSe NPs) was modified with mercapto-ethylene glycol (mPEG-SH) to obtain Cu 2- xSe-PEG NPs. The morphology, particle size and ultraviolet spectrum of the Cu 2- xSe NPs were characterized by transmission electron microscopy, laser particle size analyzer and ultraviolet spectrophotometer. The photothermal properties and radiosensitization performance of the Cu 2- xSe-PEG NPs were investigated by infrared thermal imager and biological X-ray irradiator. Results:The obtained Cu 2- xSe NPs showed a hollow structure and good monodispersity, and the average diameter were (136.9±7.0) nm. The Cu 2- xSe NPs had absorption in the near-infrared region. When the Cu 2- xSe-PEG NPs sample with the mass concentration of 200 μg/ml were irradiated under 808 nm laser at 1.0 W/cm 2 for 10 min, the temperature raised to more than 55 ℃. The level of reactive oxygen species produced by the Cu 2- xSe-PEG NPs under X-ray irradiation was related to the concentration and radiation dose. Conclusions:The proposed preparation method can control the size of synthesized Cu 2- xSe NPs, and the Cu 2- xSe NPs had good photothermal properties and radiosensitization performance. This work will provide a certain theoretical basis for the application of Cu 2- xSe-PEG NPs in tumor thermoradiotherapy.