Graphene oxide-BaGdF5 nanocomposites for multi-modal imaging and photothermal therapy

By using a solvothermal method in the presence of polyethylene glycol (PEG), BaGdF5 nanoparticles are firmly attached on the surface of graphene oxide (GO) nanosheets to form the GO/BaGdF5/PEG nanocomposites. The resulting GO/BaGdF5/PEG shows low cytotoxicity, positive magnetic resonance (MR) contrast effect and better X-ray attenuation property than Iohexol, which enables effective dual-modality MR and X-ray computed tomography (CT) imaging of the tumor model in vivo. The enhanced near-infrared absorbance, good photothermal stability and efficient tumor passive targeting of GO/BaGdF5/PEG result in the highly efficient photothermal ablation of tumor in vivo after intravenous injection of GO/BaGdF5/PEG and the following 808-nm laser irradiation (0.5 W/cm2). The histological and biochemical analysis data reveal no perceptible toxicity of GO/BaGdF5/PEG in mice after treatment. These results indicate potential application of GO/BaGdF5/PEG in dual-modality MR/CT imaging and photothermal therapy of cancers.