Near-Infrared-Light-Responsive Copper Oxide Nanoparticles as Efficient Theranostic Nanoagents for Photothermal Tumor Ablation

A theranostic nanoagent exhibits great promise to improve diagnostic accuracy and therapy efficacy. Herein, a kind of theranostic nanoagent based on poly­(vinylpyrrolidone) (PVP)-protected ultrasmall Cu_1.2O nanoparticles (Cu_1.2O NPs) is developed by a facile liquid reduction method. Attributed to high near-infrared absorbance and good biocompatibility, Cu_1.2O NPs have shown significant potential for photothermal therapy. Moreover, Cu_1.2O NPs with a satisfactory T₁ relaxivity coefficient (r₁) can be well applied as outstanding MRI contrast agents and exhibit excellent magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) ability. In vivo treatments further demonstrate that Cu_1.2O NPs could be well used as multifunctional theranostic nanoagents, which achieve precise MRI and a high photothermal antitumor effect. It is expected to further promote the research and application of copper-based nanoparticles as theranostic nanoagents for cancer therapy.