A rational study of the influence of Mn2+-insertion in Prussian blue nanoparticles on their photothermal properties

Abstract

We investigated a series of Mn²⁺-Prussian blue (PB) nanoparticles Na_zMn_xFe_1−x[Fe(CN)₆]_1−y□y·nH₂O of similar size, surface state and cubic morphology with various amounts of Mn²⁺ synthesized through a one step self-assembly reaction. We demonstrated by a combined experimental–theoretical approach that during the synthesis, Mn²⁺ substituted Fe³⁺ up to a Mn/Na–Mn–Fe ratio of 32 at% in the PB structure, while for higher amounts, the Mn₂[Fe(CN)₆] analogue is obtained. For comparison, the post-synthetic insertion of Mn2+ in PB nanoparticles was also investigated and completed with Monte-Carlo simulations to probe the plausible adsorption sites. The photothermal conversion efficiency (η) of selected samples was determined and showed a clear dependence on the Mn²⁺amount with a maximum efficiency for a Mn/Na–Mn–Fe ratio of 10 at% associated with a dependence on the nanoparticle concentration. Evaluation of the in vitro photothermal properties of these nanoparticles performed on triple negative human breast adenocarcinoma (MDA-MB-231) cells by using continuous and pulsed laser irradiation confirm their excellent PTT efficiency permitting low dose use.