Nonstoichiometric Cu2−xSe nanocrystals in situ produced on the surface of carbon nanotubes for ablation of tumor cells

Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) are well known as photo-thermal agents for the ablation of tumor cells, but are limited in the application of photo-thermal therapy (PTT) owing to their low molar extinctions. By coupling the photo-thermal effects of CNTs and the intense localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) in the near-infrared (NIR) region of Cu2−xSe nanoparticles (NPs), herein we developed a highly efficient PTT nanohybrids agent by in situ growth of Cu2−xSe NPs on the acid-functionalized CNTs at room temperature. The as-prepared Cu2−xSe/CNT nanohybrids have been found to have intense LSPR in the NIR region and good photo-thermal conversion properties. Moreover, possessing good biocompatibility and dispersibility, the nanohybrids could easily be internalized by cancer cells, and show smart photo-thermal performance, properties which were then successfully applied for photo-thermal therapy in vitro, indicating that the Cu2−xSe/CNT nanohybrids could be a potential photo-thermal therapy agent for the ablation of tumor cells.