Photothermal Nanomedicine with Copper Sulfide Nanoparticles

Photothermal nanomedicine employs metal sulfide nanoparticles to convert near-infrared (NIR) light into localized heat for precise therapeutic interventions. Copper sulfide (CuS) nanoparticles exhibit tunable optical properties arising from localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR), permitting efficient photothermal conversion, deep tissue penetration and minimal off-target effects. Controlled synthesis methods yield varied morphologies—hollow spheres, nanoplates or ultrasmall colloids—with surface coatings or targeting ligands that enhance colloidal stability, biocompatibility and selective accumulation. In oncology, CuS-mediated photothermal therapy (PTT) can ablate tumours, trigger immune responses and synergise with chemotherapy or radiotherapy. In vascular disease, light-activated CuS constructs enable real-time imaging and spatiotemporal control of cellular pathways. Safety profiles indicate rapid renal clearance for sub-10 nm architectures, though long-term biodistribution and immunogenicity require ongoing evaluation. The adaptability of CuS nanoparticles supports integrated theranostic platforms, offering global applications in cancer treatment, cardiovascular interventions and beyond.

Research from Nature Portfolio

A foundational study demonstrated that CuS nanoparticles conjugated to antibodies targeting thermo-sensitive ion channels can act as a remote photothermal switch in vascular smooth muscle cells. Under NIR irradiation, local heating opened transient receptor potential channels, inducing calcium influx, autophagy activation and reduced foam cell formation. This approach enabled photoacoustic visualization of arterial plaques and significantly attenuated atherosclerotic progression in an animal model without apparent systemic toxicity, illustrating precise spatiotemporal control of cellular processes via CuS photothermal agents.

Photothermal Nanomedicine with Copper Sulfide Nanoparticles publication trend

The graph below shows the total number of articles in photothermal nanomedicine with copper sulfide nanoparticles across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).

Technical terms

Localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR): Collective oscillation of free carriers in a nanoparticle under resonant light excitation, resulting in strong optical absorption and scattering.

Photothermal therapy (PTT): Treatment modality that utilises heat generated by photothermal agents under light irradiation to ablate pathological tissues.

Near-infrared (NIR): Portion of the electromagnetic spectrum (700–1300 nm) where biological tissues exhibit low absorption, allowing deeper light penetration.

Photothermal conversion efficiency (PCE): Fraction of absorbed optical energy converted into thermal energy by a material.

Mesoporous silica shell: Porous silicate coating around nanoparticles that enhances colloidal stability, biocompatibility and drug-loading capability.

References

1. In vivo synergistic tumor therapies based on copper sulfide photothermal therapeutic nanoplatforms. Exploration (2023).
2. Copper sulfide nanoparticles as a photothermal switch for TRPV1 signaling to attenuate atherosclerosis. Nature Communications (2018).
3. The Ultrasmall Biocompatible CuS@BSA Nanoparticle and Its Photothermal Effects. Frontiers in Pharmacology (2019).
4. Copper sulfide nanostructures: synthesis and biological applications. RSC Advances (2022).
5. NIR-Absorbing Mesoporous Silica-Coated Copper Sulphide Nanostructures for Light-to-Thermal Energy Conversion. Nanomaterials (2022).
6. The Coppery Age: Copper (Cu)‐Involved Nanotheranostics. Advanced Science (2020).