Nanoscale Metal–Organic Layers for Deeply Penetrating X‐ray‐Induced Photodynamic Therapy

Abstract

Abstract We report the rational design of metal–organic layers (MOLs) that are built from [Hf 6 O 4 (OH) 4 (HCO 2 ) 6 ] secondary building units (SBUs) and Ir[bpy(ppy) 2 ] + ‐ or [Ru(bpy) 3 ] 2+ ‐derived tricarboxylate ligands (Hf‐BPY‐Ir or Hf‐BPY‐Ru; bpy=2,2′‐bipyridine, ppy=2‐phenylpyridine) and their applications in X‐ray‐induced photodynamic therapy (X‐PDT) of colon cancer. Heavy Hf atoms in the SBUs efficiently absorb X‐rays and transfer energy to Ir[bpy(ppy) 2 ] + or [Ru(bpy) 3 ] 2+ moieties to induce PDT by generating reactive oxygen species (ROS). The ability of X‐rays to penetrate deeply into tissue and efficient ROS diffusion through ultrathin 2D MOLs (ca. 1.2 nm) enable highly effective X‐PDT to afford superb anticancer efficacy.