Degradable NIR-PTT Nanoagents with a Potential Cu@Cu2O@Polymer Structure

Cu@Cu2O@PSMA polymer nanoparticles (Cu@Cu2O@polymer NPs) with near-infrared (NIR) absorption were successfully synthesized in a single-step oxidation reaction of Cu@PSMA polymer NPs at 100 °C for 20 min. The shape, structure, and optical properties of the Cu@Cu2O@polymer NPs were tailorable by controlling the reaction parameters, for example, using the initial Cu@PSMA polymer NP as a template and varying the halide ion content, heating temperature, and reaction time. The Cu@Cu2O@polymer NPs exhibited robust NIR absorption between 650 and 710 nm and possessed superior oxidation resistance in water and culture media. In vitro assays demonstrated the low cytotoxicity of the Cu@Cu2O@PSMA polymer NPs to HeLa cells through an improved cell viability, high IC50, low injury incidence from the supernatant of the partly dissociated Cu@Cu2O@PSMA polymer NPs, and minor generation of reactive oxygen species. More importantly, we demonstrated that the inorganic Cu-based nanocomposite [+0.34 V vs normal hydrogen electro...