A NIR-driven Janus Cu₂O/Au nanomotor had been constructed to explore the synergistical therapeutic effect on hepatoma carcinoma cells. The asymmetric Au modification causes uneven heating on both sides of the Cu₂O/Au nanomotor, resulting in autonomous motion from high to low temperature, actively targeting hepatocellular carcinoma cells. Under the synergistic effects of photothermal therapy, photodynamic therapy and Cu₂O′s own nanotoxicity, Cu₂O/Au nanomotors exhibit highly effective killing effect on liver cancer cells.

Abstract

We presented a NIR-driven Janus Cu₂O/Au nanomotor. The nanomotor has a truncated octahedral structure. By asymmetric Au evaporation, the light response range of Cu₂O nanomotor is extended to near-infrared range, and the speed of Cu₂O/Au nanomotors under NIR is significantly increased. In promoting apoptosis of hepatocellular carcinoma, except the nanotoxicity of Cu₂O itself, the Au layer enhances the photothermal properties, allowing Cu₂O/Au nanomotors to induce apoptosis in hepatocellular carcinoma cells by heating them. On the other hand, a Schottky barrier formed at the interface of Cu₂O and Au, preventing the recombination of electrons, which makes more electrons react with biomolecules to produce toxic ROS to kill hepatocellular cells. The killing rate of hepatocellular carcinoma cells reached 87 % by the combined effect of nanotoxicity inhibition of proliferation and photothermal & photodynamic therapy (PTT & PDT). Nanomotors in combination with multiple approaches are explored as a new treatment to tumor in this article.