DataVXACS Materials LettersPaper
journal article·2026-04-06

FA/HCQ-Functionalized Ag-Doped Quantum Dots: A Triple-Modal Nanoplatform for Mild-Temperature Photothermal Cancer Therapy

Jie Wu, Jinhua Li, Liru Heng, Zixuan Jia, Xinlu Li, Huimin Miao, Yuwei Du, Juan Yue, Wenfei Dong, Li Li

ACS Materials Letters· Volume 8· Issue 4
Publisher page
Source abstract

Abstract

To improve the trade-off between efficacy and safety in photothermal therapy (PTT), we report folic acid (FA)/hydroxychloroquine (HCQ)-dual-functionalized Ag-doped CuInSe 2 /ZnS quantum dots (ACFQ QDs) for mild PTT (MPTT). The ACFQ QDs achieve a photothermal conversion efficiency of 42.6% under 808 nm laser, enabling tumor ablation at 43 °C. HCQ inhibits autophagic self-repair of cancer cells under sublethal thermal stress, while FA targets folate receptor-overexpressing tumors. In vitro, ACFQ QDs induce significant apoptosis, suppress clonogenicity and invasion, and generate reactive oxygen species (ROS) for synergistic photodynamic therapy (PDT). Studies on nude mice have shown a tumor suppression rate of over 80%, with negligible systemic toxicity and normal tissue damage. The dual-ligand strategy overcomes limitations of conventional QDs, combining photothermal, photodynamic, and autophagy-inhibiting effects for a translatable cancer therapy paradigm.
Source: openalex_inverted_index · Quality: baseline

Research context

Nanomaterials

OpenAlex topics: Nanoplatforms for cancer theranostics · Carbon and Quantum Dots Applications · Gold and Silver Nanoparticles Synthesis and Applications

SciVX discovery tags are terminology-based. OpenAlex topics are source-provided classifications.

Affiliations

Nanophotonics and Biophotonics Key Laboratory of Jilin Province, School of Physics

Changchun University of Science and Technology

Department of Biomaterials and Stem Cells, Suzhou Institute of Biomedical Engineering and Technology

Chinese Academy of Science (CAS)

School of Medical Imaging

Xuzhou Medical University

Funding

National Key Research and Development Program of China · Natural Science Foundation of Jiangsu Province · Youth Innovation Promotion Association of the Chinese Academy of Sciences · High Level Innovation and Entrepreneurial Research Team Program in Jiangsu · National Natural Science Foundation of China · Natural Science Foundation of Shandong Province · Chinese Academy of Sciences · Suzhou Basic Research Pilot Program

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