MoS₂ nanoflower-Indocyanine green composite for enhanced optical imaging capabilities

To enhance the efficiency of painless targeted nanotherapies, integrating optical imaging capabilities into nanoplatforms is gaining momentum. Our study presents a cost-effective synthesis of MoS2 nanoflower (MNF) and Indocyanine green (ICG) composites (MNF-ICG) using a physical method based on van der Waals interactions. MNF, prepared via the hydrothermal method, underwent characterization through UV-vis, FTIR, and fluorescence spectroscopy, while FESEM and XRD techniques were employed to analyse morphology and structural phase. Through electrostatic interaction, ICG was absorbed onto the MNF surface. The resulting MNF-ICG demonstrated exceptionally high optical absorbance across a broad NIR spectra, facilitating longer-wavelength photothermic imaging with increased penetration depth. In comparison to MNF alone, the composite significantly enhanced the photothermal imaging sensitivity of nanoplatforms, exhibiting notable bathochromic and hyperchromic shifts in fluorescence intensity. This innovative approach holds promise for advancing nanotherapeutics with improved optical imaging capabilities.