Bismuth Selenide Nanostructured Clusters as Optical Coherence Tomography Contrast Agents: Beyond Gold-Based Particles

Optical coherence tomography (OCT) is an imaging technique currently used in clinical practice to obtain optical biopsies of different biological tissues in a minimally invasive way. Among the contrast agents proposed to increase the efficacy of this imaging method, gold nanoshells (GNSs) are the best performing ones. However, their preparation is generally time-consuming, and they are intrinsically costly to produce. Herein, we propose a more affordable alternative to these contrast agents: Bi2Se3 nanostructured clusters with a desert rose-like morphology prepared via a microwave-assisted method. The structures are prepared in a matter of minutes, feature strong near-infrared extinction properties, and are biocompatible. They also boast a photon-to-heat conversion efficiency of close to 50%, making them good candidates as photothermal therapy agents. In vitro studies evidence the prowess of Bi2Se3 clusters as OCT contrast agents and prove that their performance is comparable to that of GNSs.

Automated summary

Bi2Se3 nanostructured clusters, prepared via a microwave-assisted method, offer a more affordable alternative to gold nanoshells as contrast agents for optical coherence tomography (OCT). They can be prepared quickly, exhibit strong near-infrared extinction properties, and have a high photon-to-heat conversion efficiency, making them promising candidates for photothermal therapy agents. In vitro studies demonstrate the effectiveness of Bi2Se3 clusters as OCT contrast agents, showing comparable performance to gold nanoshells.