Folic Acid Conjugated CuS Nanoprisms for Cancer Targeting and Photothermal Treatment

In this research, novel copper sulfide (CuS) nanoprisms with high surface area were prepared by two-phase colloidal method. The CuS nanoprisms were modified with folic acid as targeting molecules and used in cancer treatment as photothermal agent using NIR laser. FTIR analysis confirmed that the CuS have been synthesized and the FA was successfully conjugated the CuS nanoprisms. From UV-visible characterization, the prepared CuS nanoprisms have an absorption spectrum with two peaks appeared at UV-visible and near infrared region. The peak at UV-visible range greatly reduced when the folic acid conjugated CuS and the optical energy gap was decreased from 3.34 to 1.95 eV. The results of photothermal treatment indicated that the FA-CuS nanoprisms have high efficiency in photothermal therapy.

Automated summary

In this research, novel copper sulfide (CuS) nanoprisms with high surface area were prepared using a two-phase colloidal method. Modified with folic acid, the CuS nanoprisms were utilized as a photothermal agent for targeting cancer treatment with NIR laser. Characterization results showed that the prepared CuS nanoprisms had an absorption spectrum with two peaks in the UV-visible and near infrared region. The conjugation of folic acid significantly reduced the peak in the UV-visible range and decreased the optical energy gap. Photothermal treatment results indicated that the FA-CuS nanoprisms exhibited high efficiency in photothermal therapy.