Cation-exchange synthesized Zn-doped Ag 2 S Nanostructures for Photothermal and Photodynamic Therapies across Breast Cancer Subtypes
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Photothermal therapy (PTT) and photodynamic therapy (PDT) require nanostructures with strong near-infrared (NIR) absorption, efficient charge separation, and biocompatibility, yet most current systems are limited by modest photothermal conversion and reactive oxygen species (ROS) yield. Silver sulfide (Ag 2 S) is a promising NIR-responsive candidate, but its therapeutic performance remains suboptimal. Here, we report zinc doped Ag 2 S (ZSS) nanostructures, synthesized via controlled cation exchange, that exhibit tunable electronic structure, enhanced NIR absorption, and improved carrier dynamics. Among the series, ZSS(0.15) demonstrated optimal bandgap narrowing, a high photothermal conversion efficiency of 67.26%, and markedly increased ROS generation under 660 nm excitation. These physicochemical enhancements translated into potent therapeutic outcomes: in-vitro, ZSS(0.15) reduced the IC50 to 15 μg/mL and induced 62.4% apoptosis via activation of the p53/Bax/Caspase pathway. In-vivo, ZSS(0.15) combined with laser irradiation achieved ~97% tumor volume suppression without systemic toxicity. Extending evaluation across multiple breast cancer subtypes (MCF-7, MDA-MB-231, SK-BR-3, T47D) further confirmed broad-spectrum efficacy. This work introduces a lattice-engineered Zn/Ag 2 S nanoplatform that couples materials innovation with synergistic PTT/PDT, offering a versatile route toward clinically relevant cancer nanomedicines.
