Tumor-Microenvironment-Induced All-in-One Nanoplatform for Multimodal Imaging-Guided Chemical and Photothermal Therapy of Cancer

Abstract

Precisely locating tumor site based on tumor-microenvironment-induced (TMI) multimodal imaging is especially interesting for accurate and efficient cancer therapy. In the present investigation, a novel TMI all-in-one nanoplatform, CuS_NC@DOX@MnO_2-NS, has been successfully fabricated for chemical and photothermal (Chem-PTT) therapy guided by multimodal imaging on tumor site. Here, the CuS nanocages with mesoporous and hollow structure (CuS_NC) acting as nanocarriers provide high capacity for loading the anticancer drug, doxorubicin (DOX). The outer layer of the MnO₂ nanoshell (MnO_2-NS) acts as "gatekeeper" to control the DOX release until the nanoplatform arrives at the tumor site, where abundant glutathione and H⁺ decompose MnO_2-NS into paramagnetic Mn²⁺. The magnetic resonance imaging and fluorescent imaging were then triggered to locate the tumor, which was further improved by photothermal imaging on account of the intrinsic property of CuS_NC. Guided by the multimode imaging, the combination of chemical therapy upon DOX and photothermal therapy upon CuS_NC exhibits eminent efficiency on tumor ablation. The nanoplatform exhibits biocompatibility to avoid unwanted harm to normal tissues during trans-shipment in the body. The investigation thus develops a cost-effective TMI nanoplatform with facile preparations and easy integration of Chem-PTT treatment capabilities guided by multimodal imaging for potential application in precise therapy.