Red blood cell membrane-enveloped O₂ self-supplementing biomimetic nanoparticles for tumor imaging-guided enhanced sonodynamic therapy

Abstract

Non-invasive sonodynamic therapy (SDT) was developed because of its advantages of high penetration depth and low side effects; however, tumor hypoxia greatly restricts its therapeutic effect. In this study, we aimed to develop ideal O₂ self-supplementing nanoparticles for imaging-guided enhanced sonodynamic therapy of tumors with the adept coalescence of biology with nanotechnology. <b>Methods:</b> Based on the natural enzyme system of red blood cells (RBC), biomimetic nanoparticles (QD@P)Rs were fabricated by encapsulating Ag₂S quantum dots (QD) in RBC vesicle membranes. The anti-tumor drug PEITC was employed to increase the intracellular H₂O₂ concentration in tumor cells. <b>Results:</b><i>In vitro</i> and <i>in vivo</i> experiments demonstrated excellent biocompatibility and prolonged blood circulation of (QD@P)Rs. Following oral administration of PEITC in mice to improve the H₂O₂ concentration, the enzyme in the nanoprobe catalyzed endogenous H₂O₂ to increase O₂ content and effectively alleviate tumor hypoxia. Triggered by ultrasound under the guidance of fluorescence imaging, (QD@P)Rs generated reactive oxygen species (ROS) to induce tumor cell death, and the increased content of O₂ significantly enhanced the effect of SDT. <b>Conclusion:</b> Ag₂S QDs were used, for the first time, as a sonosensitizer in the SDT field. In this study, we integrated the advantages of the natural enzyme system and SDT to develop a novel approach for effective non-invasive treatment of cancer.