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Janus heterostructural materials as photothermal agents with enhanced optical conversion capability are promising for artery inflammation treatment by the hyperthermia of macrophages, a primordial part in the artery inflammation response that can deteriorate into atherosclerosis and even break the vessels. Herein, a synthesis route of Janus Ag/Ag2S beads with hydrophilic ligands has been developed with a precise control over concentration, time and surface functionalization. These Ag/Ag2S heterodimers show desirable sizes of around 90 nm in diameter, in which Ag nanocrystals have a diameter of around 25 nm, and they exhibit a photothermal conversion efficiency of up to 50.0% as well as relatively low biotoxicity and good biocompatibility. Importantly, the as-prepared Janus Ag/Ag2S beads with a high biological safety can be effectively swallowed by macrophages and have a remarkable benefit of eliminating these cells from the original state of artery inflammation through the excellent photothermal effect of this material, without causing any further damage to the arteries and major organs in vivo. This study further promotes the development of treatment for vascular inflammation by the photothermal melting of macrophage cells in intima environments.

Transition-metal chalcogenides with an imaging element and tunable optical property are strongly desired as ideal high-efficiency photothermal theranostic agents to diagnose and eliminate tumors. Herein, we report on a one-pot solvothermal strategy to synthesize various porous cobalt sulfide hollow nanospheres (PCSH NSs) and elucidate the relation between PCSH NSs and their optical absorption as a guide to obtain optimal photothermal therapy (PTT) agents. After PEG modification, PEG-PCSH NSs show superexcellent photothermal conversion efficiency (∼70.1%) which is higher than that of binary transition-metal chalcogenides materials reported to date. A low dose (100 μL, 25 ppm) could completely ablate tumors under an 808 nm laser power of 0.7 W cm-2, reducing in vivo long-term residual agent content and thus lowering the possibility of side effects. Additionally, they also exhibit excellent biocompatibility, good photostability and utility for magnetic resonance imaging. Our results indicate that PCSH NSs can be considered as an outstanding PTT agent and give guidance towards the design of other photothermal theranostic agents.

To retain the agents in tumors for cancer diagnosis and therapy, and then to remove them from the body, are key for the clinical applications of ideal inorganic theranostic agents. To meet these needs, we have developed a transformed theranostic platform, employing PVP coated Fe3S4 tetragonal nanosheets (TNSs), which could effectively accumulate in the tumor under magnetic targeting, whilst gradually transforming to small particles (∼5 nm) over three weeks. These were then effectively excreted from the body in normal physiological conditions after exerting their therapeutic effect. The aqueous dispersion of PVP coated Fe3S4 TNSs had an intense near-infrared absorption, excellent photothermal conversion efficiency (64.3%) and great T2 weighted magnetic resonance imaging properties (71.3 mM−1 S−1). In addition, Fe3S4 TNSs could realize a synergistic photothermal therapy (PTT)/chemodynamic therapy (CDT), because the localized heat produced by PTT from the defect-rich structure could enhance the Fenton process by utilizing the overproduced H2O2 in the tumor microenvironment, and in return, the produced ˙OH could inhibit tumor growth and recurrence after PPT. We thus developed a high-efficiency inorganic theranostic platform which was effectively cleared from the body. This will open up a new avenue for the design of inorganic agents for clinical applications in the future.

Despite drug delivery systems (DDSs) receiving ever-increasing attention, development of a simple, effective, sensitive and clearable drug delivery and multifunctional theranostic nanoplatform for cancer therapy is still highly desirable and remains a challenge. Herein, using a one-step solvothermal method, hollow acanthosphere-like CuS superstructures assembled from ∼10 nm nanoparticles (NPs) were successfully obtained and used as an efficient drug delivery and theranostic platform for photoacoustic (PA) and infrared (IR) thermal imaging-guided cancer combination therapy. The special hollow characteristic of CuS superstructures with mesoporous shells and large cavities grants them high drug loading capacity; they demonstrate near-infrared (NIR)/pH stimuli-sensitive drug release and pronounced synergetic effects of chemo-photothermal therapy both in vitro and in vivo. In particular, our as-fabricated hollow loose CuS superstructures, with easily breakable characteristic, are biodegradable and able to be cleared from the body when their therapy task is completed. This CuS-superstructure-based clearable drug delivery and "all-in-one" cancer theranostic platform might provide possibilities for improving therapeutic efficacy and minimizing adverse effects.

Janus heterostructural materials as photothermal agents with enhanced optical conversion capability are promising for artery inflammation treatment by the hyperthermia of macrophages, a primordial part in the artery inflammation response that can deteriorate into atherosclerosis and even break the vessels. Herein, a synthesis route of Janus Ag/Ag

Near-infrared (NIR) light has been widely applied in the field of photothermal therapy (PTT). Recent advances in the light wavelength for efficient cancer PTT have gradually shifted from the first NIR (NIR-I) biowindow (700-1000 nm) to the second NIR (NIR-II) biowindow (1000-1350 nm) owing to its intrinsic deeper tissue penetration ability and a higher maximum permissible exposure (MPE) value. Herein, we have prepared nickel sulphide (Ni9S8) nanoparticles (NPs) with a full-spectrum-absorption (400 nm-1100 nm) in the NIR region. By a fair comparison, it is found that the PTT using the NPs upon irradiation from an NIR-II (i.e., 1064 nm) laser is more efficient than that from an NIR-I (i.e., 808, 915, and 976 nm) laser. The large mass extinction coefficient value (22.18 L g-1 cm-1) and high photothermal conversion efficiency (46%) at 1064 nm make these NPs promising candidates for NIR-II photo-thermal therapy. This study will benefit future exploration and optimization of nickel-based photoabsorbers utilizing NIR-II light for photothermal applications.

To retain the agents in tumors for cancer diagnosis and therapy, and then to remove them from the body, are key for the clinical applications of ideal inorganic theranostic agents. To meet these needs, we have developed a transformed theranostic platform, employing PVP coated Fe3S4 tetragonal nanosheets (TNSs), which could effectively accumulate in the tumor under magnetic targeting, whilst gradually transforming to small particles (∼5 nm) over three weeks. These were then effectively excreted from the body in normal physiological conditions after exerting their therapeutic effect. The aqueous dispersion of PVP coated Fe3S4 TNSs had an intense near-infrared absorption, excellent photothermal conversion efficiency (64.3%) and great T2 weighted magnetic resonance imaging properties (71.3 mM-1 S-1). In addition, Fe3S4 TNSs could realize a synergistic photothermal therapy (PTT)/chemodynamic therapy (CDT), because the localized heat produced by PTT from the defect-rich structure could enhance the Fenton process by utilizing the overproduced H2O2 in the tumor microenvironment, and in return, the produced ˙OH could inhibit tumor growth and recurrence after PPT. We thus developed a high-efficiency inorganic theranostic platform which was effectively cleared from the body. This will open up a new avenue for the design of inorganic agents for clinical applications in the future.

Correction for ‘Porous cobalt sulfide hollow nanospheres with tunable optical property for magnetic resonance imaging-guided photothermal therapy’ by Guoqiang Guan et al., Nanoscale, 2018, DOI: 10.1039/c8nr01926f.

A versatile nanoplatform of FeWO4@Polypyrrole (PPy) core/shell nanocomposites, which was facilely fabricated by first hydrothermal synthesis of FeWO4 nanoparticles and subsequent surface-coating of polypyrrole shell, was developed as an effective nanotheranostic agent of cancer. The as-prepared nanocomposites demonstrated excellent dispersion in saline, long-term colloidal storage, outstanding photo-stability and high photothermal efficiency in solution. In particular, FeWO4@PPy exhibited efficient performance for hyperthermia-killing of cancer cells under the irradiation of an 808 nm laser, accompanied with multimodal contrast capabilities for magnetic resonance imaging, X-ray computed tomography and infrared thermal imaging in vitro and in vivo. Furthermore, the nanocomposites presented impactful tumor growth inhibition and good biocompability in animal experiments. Blood circulation and biodistribution of the nanocomposites were also investigated to understand their in vivo behaviours. Our results verified the platform of FeWO4@PPy nanocomposites as a promising photothermal agent for imaging-guided cancer theranostics.

Multifunctional nanomaterials open an avenue for the integration of cancer treatment and diagnosis, trending towards the clinical application of nanomedicines in future. Herein, we synthesized biocompatible CuCo