HIT Studies the Application of Cesium Tungsten Bronze in Tumor Diagnosis

The application of cesium tungsten bronze in tumor diagnosis and treatment has been developed recently. It is reported that the research group of Professor Liu Shaoqin from the Micro and Nano Technology Research Center of the Institute of Basic and Interdisciplinary Science of Harbin Institute of Technology (HIT) has studied the application of cesium tungsten bronze nanoparticles in tumor diagnosis and treatment. Results show that the nanoparticles can well achieve the dual anti-tumor effect of photothermal and photodynamic, as well as achieve visual monitoring.

As the second leading cause of death in the world, tumors have seriously threatened human health and life. However, traditional radiotherapy and chemotherapy have large side effects, that is, while eliminating cancer cells in the patient's body, it also affects the normal body. Therefore, current medical researchers are looking for a treatment that is less destructive to normal cells. Photothermal therapy (PTT) and photodynamic therapy (PDT) are currently the two most commonly used methods for cancer diagnosis and treatment.

Photothermal therapy requires the delivery of photothermal agents to tumor tissues to use the photo-generated local high temperature to kill cancer cells, while photodynamic therapy relies on the photo-generated free radicals of photosensitizers to eliminate tumors. They all have the advantages of low toxicity, small side effects, short treatment time, and repeatable treatment. However, PDT quickly consumes oxygen in the tumor tissue when treatment. Therefore, both treatments should be combined.

The traditional method of integrated diagnosis and treatment materials are mainly simple combined multiple components. The obtained materials have disadvantages such as mutual interference between the components, complex synthesis, and easy disassembly during use.

In response to the above problems, HIT researchers designed and synthesized cesium tungsten bronze nanoparticles, and then modified their surface to biologically functionalize their interactions with the cell and tumor tissue interface. Taking advantage of its photodynamic effect, photothermal conversion ability and high atomic number characteristics, three multi-mode diagnosis and treatment material systems have been constructed to realize the integration of cancer multifunctional imaging and phototherapy.

Cesium tungsten bronze nanoparticles developed by HIT can produce local high heat and free radicals under near-infrared light irradiation, and could realize the synergistic effect of combining PDT and PTT. In addition, the high photothermal conversion efficiency and large atomic number of cesium tungsten bronze could realize visual monitoring during treatment. This work will lay a solid foundation for future tumor diagnosis and treatment.

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