Polydopamine Nanoparticle-Incorporated Fluorescent Hydrogel for Fluorescence Imaging-Guided Photothermal Therapy of Cancers

摘要

Abstract In this study, we report a fluorescent polydopamine nanoparticle-incorporated hydrogel (FPNP-hydrogel) for fluorescence imaging-guided photothermal cancer therapy. The FPNP-hydrogel was prepared by combining fluorescent polydopamine nanoparticles (FPNPs) with polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) using a simple method. The unique optical properties of the FPNPs facilitated the FPNP-hydrogel the excellent biocompatibility, strong fluorescence, and high photostability, showing an availability of fluorescence imaging in BALB/c nude mice. When combined with near-infrared laser irradiation, the FPNP-hydrogel noticeably reduced tumor volumes in 4T1 tumor-bearing mice within 14?days without inducing the inflammatory response in major organs. In conclusion, the results suggest that multifunctional hydrogels with excellent fluorescence properties and high photothermal conversion efficiency could be useful for designing novel therapeutic methods for cancer treatment.