Structure-dependent photothermal anticancer effects of carbon-based photoresponsive nanomaterials

Here, we report the effect of structure on the biological properties of photoresponsive carbon nanomaterials. Poloxamer 407-functionalized single-walled carbon nanotubes (PSWCNT) and poloxamer 407-functionalized graphene nanosheets (PGNS) exhibited similar physical stability and heating capacities after irradiation with an 808 nm near-infrared (NIR) laser. Despite sharing common physical properties, the cellular uptake of the PSWCNT and PGNS differed significantly. Cancer cells treated with PGNS took up a higher quantity of the nanosheets than of the PSWCNT and displayed a higher rate of cancer cell killing upon laser irradiation. Structure of carbon nanomaterials also affected the in vivo behaviors. PGNS could circulate in the blood 2.2 times longer than that of the PSWCNT. PGNS accumulated in the SCC tumor tissues to a greater degree than did PSWCNT over 7 days. NIR irradiation resulted in the complete ablation of tumor tissues in the PGNS-treated group but not in the other groups. After NIR irradiation, 100% of the PGNS-treated and NIR-irradiated mice survived until day 70. These results suggest the importance of structure in controlling the in vivo behaviors of carbon nanomaterials. Moreover, the results indicate the structural advantages of nanosheets over nanotubes in the enhancement of photothermal anticancer effects.