J. Mater. Sci. Technol. ›› 2023, Vol. 148: 171-185.DOI: 10.1016/j.jmst.2022.10.086

• Research article • Previous Articles     Next Articles

Chemical-NIR dual-powered CuS/Pt nanomotors for tumor hypoxia modulation, deep tumor penetration and augmented synergistic phototherapy

Wenjun Wanga,1, Enhui Mab,1, Pengyu Taoa,1, Xiaoyu Zhoua, Yujuan Xinga, Liang Chena, Yingying Zhanga, Jingjing Li, Kai Xua,c,*, Hong Wangb,*, Shaohui Zhenga,c,*   

  1. aSchool of Medical Imaging, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou 221006, China;
    bSchool of Chemical Engineering & Technology, China University of Mining and Technology, Xuzhou 221116, China;
    cDepartment of Radiology, Affiliated Hospital of Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou 221004, China
  • Received:2022-09-02 Revised:2022-10-06 Accepted:2022-10-13 Published:2023-06-10 Online:2023-06-05
  • Contact: *E-mail addresses:. xkpaper@163.com (K. Xu), hongwang@cumt.edu.cn (H. Wang), shaohui19910@163.com (S. Zheng)
  • About author:1These authors contributed equally to this work.

Abstract: The complex tumor microenvironment (TME) with the characteristics of severe hypoxia, enriched hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) and dense nature significantly restricted the therapeutic efficacy of nanomedicine in cancer treatment. Synthetic micro/nanomotors have shown multiple versatility in modulating the abnormal TME and overcoming the limited penetration in solid tumor. Herein, we constructed a chemical-NIR dual-propelled nanomotor based on CuS/Pt Janus nanoparticles with IR820 encapsulation for hypoxia alleviation, deep tumor penetration and augmented synergistic photodynamic (PDT) and photothermal therapy (PTT). The deposited Pt effectively catalyzed tumor endogenous H2O2 into oxygen, which extremely relieved the tumor hypoxia state and allowed the chemical propulsion of nanomotors. Under NIR irradiation, the Janus nanomotors exhibited more obvious movement via efficient photothermal conversion. Such autonomous motion significantly improved the tumoral accumulation of nanomotors and facilitated much deeper penetration inside tumor in vivo. In addition, enriched oxygen also promoted the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) for augment of PDT, which achieved satisfied antitumor effect in combination with the PTT treatment. Therefore, this strategy based on CuS/Pt Janus nanomotors would provide an innovative dimension for considerable applications in effective cancer management.

Key words: CuS/Pt Janus nanomotors, Chemical-NIR dual-propulsion, Deep tumor penetration, Hypoxia alleviation, Synergistic PDT and PTT