Copper Sulfide-Decorated Gd2O3 Nanorods: A Promising Probe for Magnetic Resonance Imaging and Photothermal Therapy

The development of bifunctional nanoplatform-based theranostics has garnered considerable attention in cancer therapy research. In this study, we engineer Gd2O3@SiO2-CuS nanorods as an integrated diagnostic-therapeutic system, simultaneously harnessing photothermal conversion and paramagnetic properties for MRI-assisted photothermal intervention. Hydrothermally synthesized Gd2O3 nanorods demonstrate superior T1-weighted contrast performance, achieving a longitudinal relaxivity (r1) of 4.2 mM–1·s–1, which compares favorably with that of commercial contrast agents. Furthermore, the strategically integrated CuS component exhibits remarkable photothermal conversion efficiency (19.6%) and sustained therapeutic stability. These attributes pave the way for achieving the application objective of magnetic resonance imaging-assisted photothermal therapy. Critically, comprehensive biosafety evaluations, including hemocompatibility assays and cytotoxicity profiling, confirm the nanocomposite’s favorable biocompatibility. The findings underscore the substantial potential of Gd2O3@SiO2-CuS nanorods for image-guided photothermal therapy applications.