The purpose of this research is to establish an injectable hydrogel encapsulating copper sulfide (CuS) nanodots for photothermal therapy against cancer. The CuS nanodots were prepared by one-pot synthesis, and the thermosensitive Pluronic F127 was used as the hydrogel matrix. The CuS nanodots and the hydrogel were characterized by morphous, particle size, serum stability, photothermal performance upon repeated 808 nm laser irradiation, and rheology features. The effects of the CuS nanodots and the hydrogel were evaluated qualitatively and quantitatively in 4T1 mouse breast cancer cells. The retention, photothermal efficacy, therapeutic effects, and systemic toxicity of the hydrogel were assessed in tumor bearing mouse model. The CuS nanodots with a diameter of about 8 nm exhibited satisfying serum stability, photoheat conversion ability, and repeated laser exposure stability. The hydrogel encapsulation did not negatively influence the above features of the photothermal agent. The nanodot-loaded hydrogel shows a phase transition at body temperature and, as a result, a long retention in vivo. The photothermal-agent-embedded hydrogel played a promising photothermal therapeutic effect in the tumor bearing mouse model with low systemic toxicity after peritumoral administration.

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CuS纳米点负载的热敏水凝胶用于抗癌光热疗法

这项研究的目的是建立一种可封装的硫化铜（CuS）纳米点的可注射水凝胶，用于光热疗法治疗癌症。通过一锅合成法制备CuS纳米点，并将热敏Pluronic F127用作水凝胶基质。CuS纳米点和水凝胶的特征是形态，粒径，血清稳定性，在重复808 nm激光照射下的光热性能以及流变学特性。在4T1小鼠乳腺癌细胞中定性和定量地评估了CuS纳米点和水凝胶的作用。在荷瘤小鼠模型中评估了水凝胶的保留，光热功效，治疗效果和全身毒性。直径约8 nm的CuS纳米点表现出令人满意的血清稳定性，光热转化能力，以及反复的激光曝光稳定性。水凝胶包封不会对光热剂的上述特征产生负面影响。负载纳米点的水凝胶在人体温度下显示出相变，因此保留时间长体内。包埋有光热剂的水凝胶在荷瘤小鼠模型中具有良好的光热治疗作用，其在肿瘤周围给药后具有低的全身毒性。