Facile synthesis of biocompatible MoSe2 nanoparticles for efficient targeted photothermal therapy of human lung cancer

Abstract

Two-dimensional molybdenum selenide (MoSe₂) nanosheets have been explored for their use as photothermal agents in tumor therapy although several biocompatibility and stability issues have hindered their use. Herein, a facile strategy to prepare PLGA–MoSe₂ mixture coated with a folate (FA)-modified PEG-lipid shell led to the synthesis of multifunctional nanoparticles (FA–PL–MoSe₂). The PEG-lipid shells endowed the insoluble MoSe₂ nanosheets with excellent colloidal stability. FA–PL–MoSe₂ nanoparticles did not only exhibit good photothermal properties, but also excellent photothermal stability. The FA conjugation promoted a high nanoparticle specificity to target human lung cancer SPC-A-1 cells as well as tumor tissue. In vitro cellular experiments demonstrated that FA–PL–MoSe₂ had minor cytotoxicity, great biocompatibility, and could efficiently kill tumor cells under near-infrared laser (NIR, 808 nm) irradiation. Following about 1 month of treatment, FA–PL–MoSe₂ showed good hemo-/histocompatibility combined with NIR irradiation and an improved tumor inhibition effect compared to PL–MoSe₂, with no relapse and no significant systemic in vivo toxicity.