Upconversion Nanoparticle-Induced Multimode Photodynamic Therapy Based on a Metal-Organic Framework/Titanium Dioxide Nanocomposite

Synergistic cancer treatment using porphyrin-based metal-organic Frameworks for photodynamic and photothermal therapy

Recent advancements in multifunctional nanomaterials for cancer therapy have highlighted porphyrin-based metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) as promising candidates due to their unique properties and versatile applications. This overview focuses on the use of porphyrin-based MOFs for combined photodynamic therapy (PDT) and photothermal therapy (PTT) in cancer treatment. Porphyrin-based MOFs offer high porosity, tuneable structures, and excellent stability, making them ideal for drug delivery and therapeutic applications. The incorporation of porphyrin molecules into the MOF framework enhances light absorption and energy transfer, leading to improved photodynamic and photothermal effects. Additionally, the porosity of MOFs allows for the encapsulation of therapeutic agents, further enhancing efficacy. In PDT, porphyrin-based MOFs generate reactive oxygen species (ROS) upon light activation, destroying cancer cells. The photothermal properties enable the conversion of light energy into heat, resulting in localised hyperthermia and tumour ablation. The combination of PDT and PTT in a single platform offers synergistic effects, leading to better therapeutic outcomes, reduced side effects, and improved selectivity. This dual-modal treatment strategy provides precise spatiotemporal control over the treatment process, paving the way for next-generation therapeutics with enhanced efficacy and reduced side effects. Further research and optimisation are needed for clinical applications.

Advancements in research on the precise eradication of cancer cells through nanophotocatalytic technology

The rapid development of nanotechnology has significantly advanced the application of nanophotocatalysis in the medical field, particularly for cancer therapy. Traditional cancer treatments, such as chemotherapy and radiotherapy, often cause severe side effects, including damage to healthy tissues and the development of drug resistance. In contrast, nanophotocatalytic therapy offers a promising approach by utilizing nanomaterials that generate reactive oxygen species (ROS) under light activation, allowing for precise tumor targeting and minimizing collateral damage to surrounding tissues. This review systematically explores the latest advancements in highly efficient nanophotocatalysts for cancer treatment, focusing on their toxicological profiles, underlying mechanisms for cancer cell eradication, and potential for clinical application. Recent research shows that nanophotocatalysts, such as TiO2, In2O3, and g-C3N4 composites, along with photocatalysts with high conduction band or high valence band positions, generate ROS under light irradiation, which induces oxidative stress and leads to cancer cell apoptosis or necrosis. These ROS cause cellular damage by interacting with key biological molecules such as DNA, proteins, and lipids, triggering a cascade of biochemical reactions that ultimately result in cancer cell death. Furthermore, strategies such as S-scheme heterojunctions and oxygen vacancies (OVs) have been incorporated to enhance charge separation efficiency and light absorption, resulting in increased ROS generation, which improves photocatalytic performance for cancer cell targeting. Notably, these photocatalysts exhibit low toxicity to healthy cells, making them a safe and effective treatment modality. The review also discusses the challenges associated with photocatalytic cancer therapy, including limitations in light penetration and the need for improved biocompatibility. The findings suggest that nanophotocatalytic technology holds significant potential for precision cancer therapy, paving the way for safer and more effective treatment strategies.

NIR-activated multifunctional agents for the combined application in cancer imaging and therapy

Anticancer therapies that combine both diagnostic and therapeutic capabilities hold significant promise for enhancing treatment efficacy and patient outcomes. Among these, agents responsive to near-infrared (NIR) photons are of particular interest due to their negligible toxicity and multifunctionality. These compounds are not only effective in photodynamic therapy (PDT), but also serve as contrast agents in various imaging modalities, including fluorescence and photoacoustic imaging. In this review, we explore the photophysical and photochemical properties of NIR-activated porphyrin, cyanine, and phthalocyanines derivatives as well as aggregation-induced emission compounds, highlighting their application in synergistic detection, diagnosis, and therapy. Special attention is given to the design and optimization of these agents to achieve high photostability, efficient NIR absorption, and significant yields of fluorescence, heat, or reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation depending on the application. Additionally, we discuss the incorporation of these compounds into nanocarriers to enhance their solubility, stability, and target specificity. Such nanoparticle-based systems exhibit improved pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics, facilitating more effective tumor targeting and broadening the application range to photoacoustic imaging and photothermal therapy. Furthermore, we summarize the application of these NIR-responsive agents in multimodal imaging techniques, which combine the advantages of fluorescence and photoacoustic imaging to provide comprehensive diagnostic information. Finally, we address the current challenges and limitations of photodiagnosis and phototherapy and highlight some critical barriers to their clinical implementation. These include issues related to their phototoxicity, limited tissue penetration, and potential off-target effects. The review concludes by highlighting future research directions aimed at overcoming these obstacles, with a focus on the development of next-generation agents and platforms that offer enhanced therapeutic efficacy and imaging capabilities in the field of cancer treatment.

Metal-organic framework-based hybrids with photon upconversion

Upconversion materials (UCMs) featuring an anti-Stokes type emission establish them as an important category of photoluminescent materials. Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) are rapidly gaining prominence as a class of versatile materials with favourable physical and chemical properties, including high porosity, controllable pore size, flexible design, and diverse functional sites. To endow MOFs with upconversion capability and improve the properties and performance of UCMs, the hybrids integrating UCMs and MOFs are proven to be successful. This review focuses on the research advancements of upconverting MOF-based hybrids, encompassing classifications, luminescence mechanisms, designs, properties, and applications in energy, catalysis, and biomedical fields. The analyses on the functions of upconversion and MOFs, as well as the advantages and disadvantages of various upconverting MOF-based hybrids, are included. Future research directions spanning from properties and performance to applications are explored. This review will be valuable in highlighting the research accomplishments, inspiring more ideas, facilitating deeper investigations in diverse avenues, and further advancing the research field.

Advances in smart nanotechnology-supported photodynamic therapy for cancer

Cancer has emerged as a formidable challenge in the 21st century, impacting society, public health, and the economy. Conventional cancer treatments often exhibit limited efficacy and considerable side effects, particularly in managing the advanced stages of the disease. Photodynamic therapy (PDT), a contemporary non-invasive therapeutic approach, employs photosensitizers (PS) in conjunction with precise light wavelengths to selectively target diseased tissues, inducing the generation of reactive oxygen species and ultimately leading to cancer cell apoptosis. In contrast to conventional therapies, PDT presents a lower incidence of side effects and greater precision in targeting. The integration of intelligent nanotechnology into PDT has markedly improved its effectiveness, as evidenced by the remarkable synergistic antitumor effects observed with the utilization of multifunctional nanoplatforms in conjunction with PDT. This paper provides a concise overview of the principles underlying PS and PDT, while also delving into the utilization of nanomaterial-based PDT in the context of cancer treatment.

Near-Infrared Driven Gold Nanoparticles-Decorated g-C3N4/SnS2 Heterostructure through Photodynamic and Photothermal Therapy for Cancer Treatment

Background

Phototherapy based on photocatalytic semiconductor nanomaterials has received considerable attention for the cancer treatment. Nonetheless, intense efficacy for in vivo treatment is restricted by inadequate photocatalytic activity and visible light response.

Methods

In this study, we designed a photocatalytic heterostructure using graphitic carbon nitride (g-C3N4) and tin disulfide (SnS2) to synthesize g-C3N4/SnS2 heterostructure through hydrothermal process. Furthermore, Au nanoparticles were decorated in situ deposition on the surface of the g-C3N4/SnS2 heterostructure to form g-C3N4/SnS2@Au nanoparticles.

Results

The g-C3N4/SnS2@Au nanoparticles generated intense reactive oxygen species radicals under near-infrared (NIR) laser irradiation through photodynamic therapy (PDT) pathways (Type-I and Type-II). These nanoparticles exhibited enhanced photothermal therapy (PTT) efficacy with high photothermal conversion efficiency (41%) when subjected to 808 nm laser light, owing to the presence of Au nanoparticles. The in vitro studies have indicated that these nanoparticles can induce human liver carcinoma cancer cell (HepG2) apoptosis (approximately 80% cell death) through the synergistic therapeutic effects of PDT and PTT. The in vivo results demonstrated that these nanoparticles exhibited enhanced efficient antitumor effects based on the combined effects of PDT and PTT.

Conclusion

The g-C3N4/SnS2@Au nanoparticles possessed enhanced photothermal properties and PDT effect, good biocompatibility and intense antitumor efficacy. Therefore, these nanoparticles could be considered promising candidates through synergistic PDT/PTT effects upon irradiation with NIR laser for cancer treatment.

A Supramolecular Nanoformulation with Adaptive Photothermal/Photodynamic Transformation for Preventing Dental Caries

In the context of an increasingly escalating antibiotics crisis, phototherapy has emerged as a promising therapeutic approach due to its inherent advantages, including high selectivity, noninvasiveness, and low drug resistance. Photothermal therapy (PTT) and photodynamic therapy (PDT) are two complementary and promising phototherapies albeit with inherent limitations, noted as the challenges in achieving precise heat confinement and the associated risk of off-target damage for PTT, while the constraints due to the hypoxic microenvironment are prevalent in biofilms faced by PDT. Herein, we have designed a supramolecular nanoformulation that leverages the complexation-induced quenching of guanidinium-modified calix[5]arene grafted with fluorocarbon chains (GC5AF5), the efficient recognition of adenosine triphosphate (ATP), and the oxygen-carrying capacity of the fluorocarbon chain. This intelligent nanoformulation enables the adaptive enhancement of both photothermal therapy (PTT) and photodynamic therapy (PDT), allowing for on-demand switching between the two modalities. Our nanoformulation utilizes ATP released by dead bacteria to accelerate the elimination of biofilms, rendering bacteria unable to resist while minimizing harm to healthy tissues. This research highlights the particular recognition and assembly capabilities of macrocycles, offering a promising strategy for creating potent, combined antibiofilm therapies.

Recent advances in spatio-temporally controllable systems for management of glioma

Malignant glioma remains one of the most aggressive intracranial tumors with devastating clinical outcomes despite the great advances in conventional treatment approaches, including surgery and chemotherapy. Spatio-temporally controllable approaches to glioma are now being actively investigated due to the preponderance, including spatio-temporal adjustability, minimally invasive, repetitive properties, etc. External stimuli can be readily controlled by adjusting the site and density of stimuli to exert the cytotoxic on glioma tissue and avoid undesired injury to normal tissues. It is worth noting that the removability of external stimuli allows for on-demand treatment, which effectively reduces the occurrence of side effects. In this review, we highlight recent advancements in drug delivery systems for spatio-temporally controllable treatments of glioma, focusing on the mechanisms and design principles of sensitizers utilized in these controllable therapies. Moreover, the potential challenges regarding spatio-temporally controllable therapy for glioma are also described, aiming to provide insights into future advancements in this field and their potential clinical applications.

One-Pot Synthesis of a pH-Sensitive MOF Integrated with Glucose Oxidase for Amplified Tumor Photodynamic/Photothermal Therapy

Photothermal therapy (PTT) and photodynamic therapy (PDT) provide targeted approaches to cancer treatment, but each therapy has inherent limitations such as insufficient tissue penetration, uneven heat distribution, extreme hypoxia, and overexpressed HSP90 in tumor cells. To address these issues, herein, by encapsulating the IR780 dye and glucose oxidase (GOx) enzyme within ZIF-8 nanoparticles, we created a versatile system capable of combining photodynamic and enhanced photothermal therapy. The integration of the IR780 dye facilitated the generation of reactive oxygen species and hyperthermia upon light activation, enabling dual-mode cancer cell ablation. Moreover, GOx catalyzes the decomposition of glucose into gluconic acid and hydrogen peroxide, leading to the inhibition of ATP production and downregulation of heat shock protein 90 (HSP90) expression, sensitizing cancer cells to heat-induced cytotoxicity. This synergistic combination resulted in significantly improved therapeutic outcomes. Both in vitro and in vivo results validated that the nanoplatform demonstrated superior specificity and favorable therapeutic responses. Our innovative approach represents a promising strategy for overcoming current limitations in cancer treatments and offers the potential for clinical translation in the future.

Recent Advances in Photosensitizer Materials for Light-Mediated Tumor Therapy

Photodynamic therapy (PDT) as an emerging therapeutic method has drawn much attention in the treatment field for cancer. Photosensitizer, which can convert photon energy into cytotoxic species under light irradiation, is the core component in PDT. The design of photosensitizers still faces problems of light absorption, targeting, penetration and oxygen dependence. With the rapid progress of material science, various photosensitizers have been developed to produce cytotoxic species for treatment of tumor with high selectivity, safety, and noninvasiveness. Besides, the applications of photosensitizers have been expanded to diverse cancer treatments such as drug release, optogenetics and immune checkpoint blockade. In this review, we summarize the recent advances of photosensitizers in various therapeutic methods for cancer. Prevailing challenges and further prospects associated with photosensitizers are also discussed.

Near-infrared-driven upconversion nanoparticles with photocatalysts through water-splitting towards cancer treatment

Water splitting is promising, especially for energy and environmental applications; however, there are limited studies on the link between water splitting and cancer treatment. Upconversion nanoparticles (UCNPs) can be used to convert near-infrared (NIR) light to ultraviolet (UV) or visible (Vis) light and have great potential for biomedical applications because of their profound penetration ability, theranostic approaches, low self-fluorescence background, reduced damage to biological tissue, and low toxicity. UCNPs with photocatalytic materials can enhance the photocatalytic activities that generate a shorter wavelength to increase the tissue penetration depth in the biological microenvironment under NIR light irradiation. Moreover, UCNPs with a photosensitizer can absorb NIR light and convert it into UV/vis light and emit upconverted photons, which excite the photoinitiator to create H2, O2, and/or OH˙ via water splitting processes when exposed to NIR irradiation. Therefore, combining UCNPs with intensified photocatalytic and photoinitiator materials may be a promising therapeutic approach for cancer treatment. This review provides a novel strategy for explaining the principles and mechanisms of UCNPs and NIR-driven UCNPs with photocatalytic materials through water splitting to achieve therapeutic outcomes for clinical applications. Moreover, the challenges and future perspectives of UCNP-based photocatalytic materials for water splitting for cancer treatment are discussed in this review.

Design and Synthesis of Metalloporphyrin Nanoconjugates for Dual Light-Responsive Antimicrobial Photodynamic Therapy

Antimicrobial photodynamic therapy (APDT) utilizes photosensitizers (PSs) that eradicate a broad spectrum of bacteria in the presence of light and molecular oxygen. On the other hand, some light sources such as ultraviolet (UVB and UVC) have poor penetration and high cytotoxicity, leading to undesired PDT of the PSs. Herein, we have synthesized conjugatable mesosubstituted porphyrins and extensively characterized them. Time-dependent density functional theory (TD-DFT) calculations revealed that metalloporphyrin EP (5) is a suitable candidate for further applications. Subsequently, the metalloporphyrin was conjugated with lignin-based zinc oxide nanocomposites (ZnOAL and ZnOKL) to develop hydrophilic nanoconjugates (ZnOAL@EP and ZnOKL@EP). Upon dual light (UV + green light) exposure, nanoconjugates showed enhanced singlet oxygen generation ability and also demonstrated pH responsiveness. These nanoconjugates displayed significantly improved APDT efficiency (4-7 fold increase) to treat bacterial infection under dual light irradiation.

Enhanced photodynamic therapy through multienzyme-like MOF for cancer treatment

Overcoming resistance to apoptosis is a major challenge in cancer therapy. Recent research has shown that manipulating mitochondria, the organelles critical for energy metabolism in tumor cells, can increase the effectiveness of photodynamic therapy and trigger apoptosis in tumor cells. However, there is currently insufficient research and effective methods to exploit mitochondrial damage to induce apoptosis in tumor cells and improve the effectiveness of photodynamic therapy. In this study, we present a novel nanomedicine delivery and therapeutic system called PyroFPSH, which utilizes a nanozymes-modified metal-organic framework as a carrier. PyroFPSH exhibits remarkable multienzyme-like activities, including glutathione peroxidase (GPx) and catalase (CAT) mimicry, allowing it to overcome apoptosis resistance, reduce endogenous glutathione levels, and continuously generate reactive oxygen species (ROS). In addition, PyroFPSH can serve as a carrier for the targeted delivery of sulfasalazine, a drug that can induce mitochondrial depolarization in tumor cells, thereby reducing oxygen consumption and energy supply in the mitochondria of tumor cells and weakening resistance to other synergistic treatment approaches. Our experimental results highlight the potential of PyroFPSH as a versatile nanoplatform in cancer treatment. This study expands the biomedical applications of nanomaterials as platforms and enables the integration of various novel therapeutic strategies to synergistically improve tumor therapy. It deepens our understanding of multienzyme-mimicking active nanocarriers and mitochondrial damage through photodynamic therapy. Future research can further explore the potential of PyroFPSH in clinical cancer treatment and improve its drug loading capacity, biocompatibility and targeting specificity. In summary, PyroFPSH represents a promising therapeutic approach that can provide new insights and possibilities for cancer treatment.

Light-Driven Biomimetic Nanomotors for Enhanced Photothermal Therapy

Nanotechnology-based strategy has recently drawn extensive attention for the therapy of malignant tumors due to its distinct strengths in cancer diagnosis and treatment. However, the limited intratumoral permeability of nanoparticles is a major hurdle to achieving the desired effect of cancer treatment. Due to their superior cargo towing and reliable penetrating property, micro-/nanomotors (MNMs) are considered as one of the most potential candidates for the coming generation of drug delivery platforms. Here, near-infrared (NIR)-actuated biomimetic nanomotors (4T1-JPGSs-IND) are fabricated successfully and we demonstrate that 4T1-JPGSs-IND selectively accumulate in homologous tumor regions due to the effective homing ability. Upon laser irradiation, hyperthermia generated by 4T1-JPGSs-IND leads to self-thermophoretic motion and photothermal therapy (PTT) to ablate tumors with a deep depth, thereby improving the photothermal therapeutic effect for cancer management. The developed nanomotor system with multifunctionalities exhibits promising potential in biomedical applications to fight against various diseases.

Near-Infrared Conjugated Polymers Containing Thermally Activated Delayed Fluorescence Units Enable Enhanced Photothermal Therapy

Photothermal therapy (PTT) using near-infrared (NIR) conjugated polymers as photosensitizers has exhibited enormous potential for tumor treatment. However, most NIR conjugated polymers have poor therapeutic efficacy due to their faint absorbance in the NIR region and low photothermal conversion efficiency (PCE). Herein, a valuable strategy for designing NIR polymeric photosensitizer PEKBs with an enhanced PCE accompanied by strong NIR absorbance is proposed by means of inserting TPA-AQ as a thermally activated delayed fluorescence unit into a polymeric backbone. In these PEKBs, PEKB-244 with the appropriate molar content of the TPA-AQ unit displays the strongest NIR absorbance and the highest PCE of 64.5%. Theoretical calculation results demonstrate that the TPA-AQ unit in the polymeric backbone can modulate the intramolecular charge transfer effects and the excited energy decay routes for generating higher heat. The prepared nanoparticles (PEKB-244 NPs) exhibit remarkable photothermal conversion capacities and great biocompatibility in aqueous solutions. Moreover, PEKB-244 NPs also show outstanding photothermal stability, displaying negligible changes in the absorbance within 808 nm irradiation of 1 h (800 mW cm-2). Both in vitro and in vivo experimental results further indicate that PEKB-244 NPs can substantially kill cancer cells under NIR laser irradiation. We anticipate that this novel molecular design strategy can be employed to develop excellent NIR photosensitizers for cancer photothermal therapy.

Construction of a Near-Infrared Photoswitched Nanomachine Powered by an Endogenous Trigger for Activatable Imaging of Intracellular MicroRNA and Amplified Photodynamic Therapy for Cancer Cells

DNA nanomachines could initiate the cascade reaction in an autonomous mode under the drive of triggers, which achieve the signal amplification for the bioimaging of intracellular biomarkers. Compared with the "always-on" nanomachine that possibly produces false-positive signals, a controllable nanomachine with the on-site activation could be better for accurate tumor imaging and precise tumor therapy. Till now, the endogenous and exogenous triggers have been developed to design the controllable nanosensors. However, their combinations to develop feasible DNA nanomachines have been rarely studied. Herein, we constructed a near-infrared (NIR)-light-controlled DNA nanomachine that was first activated by the NIR light and then induced a target-triggered amplification process under the drive of an endogenous stimulus. Owing to adenosine-5'-triphosphate (ATP) having much higher concentration in cancer cells than that in healthy cells and the extracellular fluid, the obtained DNA nanomachine was selectively activated in cancer cells with inhibited interference signals from the surrounding healthy tissues. With obvious advantages including the exogenous NIR light initiation, the selective activation by the target microRNA, and the sensitive acceleration by the ATP-induced strand recycling reaction, the constructed nanomachine could be used to image the intracellular microRNA with increased sensitivity. Besides, after modifying the DNA sequence with the photosensitizer molecules, the obtained nanomachine could perform the selective photodynamic therapy on the tumor sections with the outstandingly decreased side effects. Thus, we hope the designed nanomachine could provide some important hints to design feasible nanomachines for accurate tumor diagnosis and precise tumor therapy.

Bulk Heterojunction Upconversion Thin Films Fabricated via One-Step Solution Deposition

Upconversion of near-infrared light into the visible has achieved limited success in applications due to the difficulty of creating solid-state films with high external quantum efficiency (EQE). Recent developments have expanded the range of relevant materials for solid-state triplet-triplet annihilation upconversion through the use of a charge-transfer state sensitization process. Here, we report the single-step solution-processed deposition of a bulk heterojunction upconversion film using organic semiconductors. The use of a bulk heterojunction thin film enables a high contact area between sensitizer and annihilator materials in this interface-triplet-generation mechanism and allows for a facile single-step deposition process. Demonstrations of multiple deposition and patterning methods on glass and flexible substrates show the promise of this materials system for solid-state upconversion applications.

Recent developments in photodynamic therapy and its application against multidrug resistant cancers

Recently, photodynamic therapy (PDT) has received a lot of attention for its potential use in cancer treatment. It enables the therapy of a multifocal disease with the least amount of tissue damage. The most widely used prodrug is 5-aminolevulinic acid, which undergoes heme pathway conversion to protoporphyrin IX, which acts as a photosensitizer (PS). Additionally, hematoporphyrin, bacteriochlorin, and phthalocyanine are also studied for their therapeutic potential in cancer. Unfortunately, not every patient who receives PDT experiences a full recovery. Resistance to different anticancer treatments is commonly observed. A few of the resistance mechanisms by which cancer cells escape therapeutics are genetic factors, drug-drug interactions, impaired DNA repair pathways, mutations related to inhibition of apoptosis, epigenetic pathways, etc. Recently, much research has been conducted to develop a new generation of PS based on nanomaterials that could be used to overcome cancer cells' multidrug resistance (MDR). Various metal-based, polymeric, lipidic nanoparticles (NPs), dendrimers, etc, have been utilized in the PDT application against cancer. This article discusses the detailed mechanism by which cancer cells evolve towards MDR as well as recent advances in PDT-based NPs for use against multidrug-resistant cancers.

Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) as effectual diagnostic and therapeutic tools for cancer

Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) are a class of multifunctional organometallic compounds that include metal ions combined with assorted organic linkers. Recently, these compounds have received widespread attention in medicine, due to their exceptional qualities, including a wide surface area, high porosity, outstanding biocompatibility, non-toxicity, etc. Such characteristic qualities make MOFs superb candidates for biosensing, molecular imaging, drug delivery, and enhanced cancer therapies. This review illustrates the key attributes of MOFs and their importance in cancer research. The structural and synthetic aspects of MOFs are briefly discussed with primary emphasis on diagnostic and therapeutic features, as well as their performance and significance in modern therapeutic methods and synergistic theranostic strategies including biocompatibility. This review offers cumulative scrutiny of the widespread appeal of MOFs in modern-day oncological research, which may stimulate further explorations.

Schottky Junction Nanozyme Based on Mn-Bridged Co-Phthalocyanines and Ti3C2Tx Nanosheets Boosts Integrative Type I and II Photosensitization for Multimodal Cancer Therapy

Cancer phototheranostics have the potential for significantly improving the therapeutic effectiveness, as it can accurately diagnose and treat cancer. However, the current phototheranostic platforms leave much to be desired and are often limited by tumor hypoxia. Herein, a Schottky junction nanozyme has been established between a manganese-bridged cobalt-phthalocyanines complex and Ti₃C₂T_x MXene nanosheets (CoPc-Mn/Ti₃C₂T_x), which can serve as an integrative type I and II photosensitizer for enhancing cancer therapeutic efficacy via a photoacoustic imaging-guided multimodal chemodynamic/photothermal/photodynamic therapy strategy under near-infrared (808 nm) light irradiation. The Schottky junction not only possessed a narrow-bandgap, enhanced electron-hole separation ability and exhibited a potent redox potential but also enabled improved H₂O₂ and O₂ supplying performances in vitro. Accordingly, the AS1411 aptamer-immobilized CoPc-Mn/Ti₃C₂T_x nanozyme illustrated high accuracy and excellent anticancer efficiency through a multimodal therapy strategy in in vitro and in vivo experiments. This work presents a valuable method for designing and constructing a multifunctional nanocatalytic medicine platform for synergistic cancer therapy of solid tumors.

Mn-doped Ti-based MOFs for magnetic resonance imaging-guided synergistic microwave thermal and microwave dynamic therapy of liver cancer

Currently, precise ablation of tumors without damaging the surrounding normal tissue is still an urgent problem for clinical microwave therapy of liver cancer. Herein, we synthesized Mn-doped Ti MOFs (Mn–Ti MOFs) nanosheets by in-situ doping method and applied them for microwave therapy. Infrared thermal imaging results indicate Mn–Ti MOFs can rapidly increase the temperature of normal saline, attributing to the porous structure improving microwave-induced ion collision frequency. Moreover, Mn–Ti MOFs show higher ¹O₂ output than Ti MOFs under 2 W of low-power microwave irradiation due to the narrower band-gap after Mn doping. At the same time, Mn endows the MOFs with a desirable T₁ contrast of magnetic resonance imaging (r₂/r₁ = 2.315). Further, results on HepG2 tumor-bearing mice prove that microwave-triggered Mn–Ti MOFs nearly eradicate the tumors after 14 days of treatment. Our study offers a promising sensitizer for synergistic microwave thermal and microwave dynamic therapy of liver cancer.

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Mn-doped Ti-MOFs nanosheets (Mn–Ti MOFs) were synthesized as novel microwave sensitizers.

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Mn–Ti MOFs can significantly generate heat and produce ROS under low-power microwave irradiation.

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The combination of microwave thermal therapy and microwave dynamic therapy can effectively inhibit the growth of tumor cells in vitro and in vivo.

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The microwave sensitizers have potential application in MRI-guided microwave therapy for liver cancer.

Surface Engineering of Lanthanide Nanoparticles for Oncotherapy

Surface-modified lanthanide nanoparticles have been widely developed as an emerging class of therapeutics for cancer treatment because they exhibit several unique properties. First, lanthanide nanoparticles exhibit a variety of diagnostic capabilities suitable for various image-guided therapies. Second, a large number of therapeutic molecules can be accommodated on the surface of lanthanide nanoparticles, which can simultaneously achieve combined cancer therapy. Third, multivalent targeting ligands on lanthanide nanoparticles can be easily modified to achieve high affinity and specificity for target cells. Last but not least, lanthanide nanoparticles can be engineered for spatially and temporally controlled tumor therapy, which is critical for developing precise and personalized tumor therapy. Surface-modified lanthanide-doped nanoparticles are widely used in cancer phototherapy. This is due to their unique optical properties, including large anti-Stokes shifts, long-lasting luminescence, high photostability, and the capacity for near-infrared or X-ray excitation. Upon near-infrared irradiation, these nanoparticles can emit ultraviolet to visible light, which activates photosensitizers and photothermal agents to destroy tumor cells. Surface modification with special ligands that respond to tumor microenvironment changes, such as acidic pH, hypoxia, or redox reactions, can turn lanthanide nanoparticles into a smart nanoplatform for light-guided tumor chemotherapy and gene therapy. Surface-engineered lanthanide nanoparticles can include antigens that elicit tumor-specific immune responses, as well as immune activators that boost immunity, allowing distant and metastatic tumors to be eradicated. The design of ligands and surface chemistry is crucial for improving cancer therapy without causing side effects. In this Account, we classify surface-modified lanthanide nanoparticles for tumor therapy into four main domains: phototherapy, radiotherapy, chemotherapy, and biotherapy. We begin by introducing fundamental bioapplications and then discuss recent developments in tumor phototherapy (photodynamic therapy and photothermal therapy), radiotherapy, chemotherapy, and biotherapy (gene therapy and immunotherapy). We also assess the viability of a variety of strategies for eliminating tumor cells through innovative pathways. Finally, future opportunities and challenges for the development of more efficient lanthanide nanoprobes are discussed.

Catalytic nanotechnology of X-ray photodynamics for cancer treatments

Photodynamic therapy (PDT) has been applied in cancer treatment because of its high selectivity, low toxicity, and non-invasiveness. However, the limited penetration depth of the light still hampers from reaching deep-seated tumors. Considering the penetrating ability of high-energy radiotherapy, X-ray-induced photodynamic therapy (X-PDT) has evolved as an alternative to overcome tissue blocks. As the basic principle of X-PDT, X-rays stimulate the nanoparticles to emit scintillating or persistent luminescence and further activate the photosensitizers to generate reactive oxygen species (ROS), which would cause a series of molecular and cellular damages, immune response, and eventually break down the tumor tissue. In recent years, catalytic nanosystems with unique structures and functions have emerged that can enhance X-PDT therapeutic effects via an immune response. The anti-cancer effect of X-PDT is closely related to the following factors: energy conversion efficiency of the material, the radiation dose of X-rays, quantum yield of the material, tumor resistance, and biocompatibility. Based on the latest research in this field and the classical theories of nanoscience, this paper systematically elucidates the current development of the X-PDT and related immunotherapy, and highlights its broad prospects in medical applications, discussing the connection between fundamental science and clinical translation.

Reaction mechanism of nanomedicine based on porphyrin skeleton and its application prospects

Research on porphyrin-based photosensitizing drugs is becoming increasingly popular. They possess unique diagnostic capabilities and therapeutic effects that have gained wide recognition in oncology drug development. In recent years, the rapid growth of nanotechnology has brought great hope for nanopharmaceutical formulations. By combining porphyrins with various nanomaterials, people have improved the properties of porphyrin compounds, making drug delivery easier. Porphyrin-based nanoparticles can enhance the effect of photodynamic therapy for cancer treatment, providing opportunities for achieving complex targeting strategies and versatility with promising applications in drug carriers, tumor imaging, and treatment. This paper reviews recent porphyrin nanodrugs, including inorganic-organic hybrid nanoparticles, nanomicelles, self-assembled nanoparticles, and combination therapeutic nanodrugs, and their actions and effects on cancer cells when performing photodynamic therapy. It also discusses the drawbacks as well as the prospects for development.

Copper decorated Ti3C2 nanosystem with NIR-II-induced GSH-depletion and reactive oxygen species generation for efficient nanodynamic therapy

Nanodynamic therapy (NDT) based on reactive oxygen species (ROS) production has been envisioned as an effective cancer treatment. However, the efficacy is limited by the hypoxia, insufficient hydrogen peroxide conversion, and high glutathione (GSH) levels in the tumor microenvironment (TME). To solve these issues, we proposed and designed a biocompatible, oxygen resistant Cu-modified Ti3C2 nanocomposite (Ti3C2-Cu-PEG), which can efficiently deplete the endogenous GSH in tumor cells, smartly respond to NIR-II light irradiation with in-depth tissue penetration to achieve photothermally enhanced tumor photodynamic therapy (PDT) and catalytic therapy. Specifically, Ti3C2-Cu-PEG reacted with oxygen to produce singlet oxygen (1O2) under NIR-II irradiation, and catalyzed the highly expressed H2O2 in the tumor microenvironment to generate ·OH. In addition, Ti3C2-Cu-PEG significantly decreased intracellular GSH, reduced the chances of reaction between ROS and GSH, and thus promoting ROS effect. Moreover, the intrinsically high photothermal conversion efficiency of Ti3C2-Cu-PEG further promotes the NDT process. In vitro and in vivo experiments, the Ti3C2-Cu-PEG nanosystem showed excellent antitumor effect in 4T1 tumor-bearing mice by amplifying oxidative stress under NIR-II stimulation. This work highlights an easily synergistic nanosystem with remodeling TME and combined photothermal therapy to enhance the therapeutic effect of NDT in tumor therapy.

The Surface Charge of Polymer-Coated Upconversion Nanoparticles Determines Protein Corona Properties and Cell Recognition in Serum Solutions

Applications of nanoparticles (NPs) in the life sciences require control over their properties in protein-rich biological fluids, as an NP quickly acquires a layer of proteins on the surface, forming the so-called "protein corona" (PC). Understanding the composition and kinetics of the PC at the molecular level is of considerable importance for controlling NP interaction with cells. Here, we present a systematic study of hard PC formation on the surface of upconversion nanoparticles (UCNPs) coated with positively-charged polyethyleneimine (PEI) and negatively-charged poly (acrylic acid) (PAA) polymers in serum-supplemented cell culture medium. The rationale behind the choice of UCNP is two-fold: UCNP represents a convenient model of NP with a size ranging from 5 nm to >200 nm, while the unique photoluminescent properties of UCNP enable direct observation of the PC formation, which may provide new insight into this complex process. The non-linear optical properties of UCNP were utilised for direct observation of PC formation by means of fluorescence correlation spectroscopy. Our findings indicated that the charge of the surface polymer coating was the key factor for the formation of PC on UCNPs, with an ensuing effect on the NP-cell interactions.

Rational Modulation of BODIPY Photosensitizers to Design Metal-Organic Framework-Based NIR Nanocomposites for High-Efficiency Photodynamic Therapy in a Hypoxic Environment

Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is a promising noninvasive treatment that has drawn great attention. However, the hypoxic environment in tumors seriously limits the therapeutic effect of oxygen-dependent chemicals and PDT. Herein, a versatile nanocomposite DF-BODIPY@ZIF-8 with oxygen-generating ability was developed based on zeolitic imidazolate framework-8 (ZIF-8) by loading the near-infrared photosensitizer DF-BODIPY to overcome hypoxia-induced drug resistance in cancer therapy. ZIF-8 can catalyze the decomposition of hydrogen peroxide in tumors and increase the dissolved oxygen concentration, resulting in a significant improvement in PDT efficacy. Additionally, we found that enhancing the electronegativity of substituents can effectively reduce the energy level difference (ΔE_st) between the minimum singlet state (S₁) and the lowest triplet state (T₁), leading to the enhancement of the singlet oxygen quantum yield. In vitro experiments suggested that DF-BODIPY@ZIF-8 indeed had a higher singlet oxygen quantum yield and better tumor cell phototoxicity than free DF-BODIPY. In vivo experiments also demonstrated that DF-BODIPY@ZIF-8 could effectively eliminate 4T1 tumors under light irradiation. Thus, we conclude that increasing the electronegativity of substituents and introducing a ZIF-8 material can effectively improve the singlet oxygen quantum yield and overcome the hypoxia limitations for high-efficiency PDT.

Nanomedicine and versatile therapies for cancer treatment

The higher prevalence of cancer is related to high rates of mortality and morbidity worldwide. By virtue of the properties of matter at the nanoscale, nanomedicine is proven to be a powerful tool to develop innovative drug carriers with greater efficacies and fewer side effects than conventional therapies. In this review, different nanocarriers for controlled drug release and their routes of administration have been discussed in detail, especially for cancer treatment. Special emphasis has been given on the design of drug delivery vehicles for sustained release and specific application methods for targeted delivery to the affected areas. Different polymeric vehicles designed for the delivery of chemotherapeutics have been discussed, including graft copolymers, liposomes, hydrogels, dendrimers, micelles, and nanoparticles. Furthermore, the effect of dimensional properties on chemotherapy is vividly described. Another integral section of the review focuses on the modes of administration of nanomedicines and emerging therapies, such as photothermal, photodynamic, immunotherapy, chemodynamic, and gas therapy, for cancer treatment. The properties, therapeutic value, advantages, and limitations of these nanomedicines are highlighted, with a focus on their increased performance versus conventional molecular anticancer therapies.

High Drug-Loading Nanomedicines for Tumor Chemo-Photo Combination Therapy: Advances and Perspectives

The combination of phototherapy and chemotherapy (chemo−photo combination therapy) is an excellent attempt for tumor treatment. The key requirement of this technology is the high drug-loading nanomedicines, which can load either chemotherapy drugs or phototherapy agents at the same nanomedicines and simultaneously deliver them to tumors, and play a multimode therapeutic role for tumor treatment. These nanomedicines have high drug-loading efficiency (>30%) and good tumor combination therapeutic effect with important clinical application potential. Although there are many reports of high drug-loading nanomedicines for tumor therapy at present, systematic analyses on those nanomedicines remain lacking and a comprehensive review is urgently needed. In this review, we systematically analyze the current status of developed high drug-loading nanomedicines for tumor chemo−photo combination therapy and summarize their types, methods, drug-loading properties, in vitro and in vivo applications. The shortcomings of the existing high drug-loading nanomedicines for tumor chemo−photo combination therapy and the possible prospective development direction are also discussed. We hope to attract more attention for researchers in different academic fields, provide new insights into the research of tumor therapy and drug delivery system and develop these nanomedicines as the useful tool for tumor chemo−photo combination therapy in the future.

Recent Advances in Near-Infrared-II Fluorescence Imaging for Deep-Tissue Molecular Analysis and Cancer Diagnosis

Fluorescence imaging with high sensitivity and minimal invasiveness has received tremendous attention, which can accomplish visualized monitoring and evaluation of cancer progression. Compared with the conventional first near-infrared (NIR-I) optical window (650-950 nm), fluorescence imaging in the second NIR optical window (NIR-II, 950-1700 nm) exhibits deeper tissue penetration capability and higher temporal-spatial resolution with lower background interference for achieving deep-tissue in vivo imaging and real-time monitoring of cancer development. Encouraged by the significant preponderances, a variety of multifunctional NIR-II fluorophores have been designed and fabricated for sensitively imaging biomarkers in vivo and visualizing the treatment procedure of cancers. In this review, the differences between NIR-I and NIR-II fluorescence imaging are briefly introduced, especially the advantages of NIR-II fluorescence imaging for the real-time visualization of tumors in vivo and cancer diagnosis. An important focus is to summarize the NIR-II fluorescence imaging for deep-tissue biomarker analysis in vivo and tumor tissue visualization, and a brief introduction of NIR-II fluorescence imaging-guided cancer therapy is also presented. Finally, the significant challenges and reasonable prospects of NIR-II fluorescence imaging for cancer diagnosis in clinical applications are outlined.

Recent Advances in Near Infrared Upconverting Nanomaterials for Targeted Photodynamic Therapy of Cancer

Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is a well-established treatment of cancer that uses the toxic reactive oxygen species, including singlet oxygen (1O2), generated by photosensitiser drugs following irradiation of a specific wavelength to destroy the cancerous cells and tumours. Visible light is commonly used as the excitation source in PDT, which is not ideal for cancer treatment due to its reduced tissue penetration, and thus inefficiency to treat deep-lying tumours. Additionally, these wavelengths exhibit elevated autofluorescence background from the biological tissues which hinders optical biomedical imaging. An alternative to UV-Vis irradiation is the use of near infrared (NIR) excitation for PDT. This can be achieved using upconverting nanoparticles (UCNPs) functionalised with photosensitiser (PS) drugs where UCNPs can be used as an indirect excitation source for the activation of PS drugs yielding to the production of singlet 1O2 following NIR excitation. The use of nanoparticles for PDT is also beneficial due to their tumour targeting capability, either passively via the enhanced permeability and retention (EPR) effect or actively via stimuli-responsive targeting and ligand-mediated targeting (ie. using recognition units that can bind specific receptors only present or overexpressed on tumour cells). Here, we review recent advances in NIR upconverting nanomaterials for PDT of cancer with a clear distinction between those reported nanoparticles that could potentially target the tumour due to accumulation via the EPR effect (passive targeting) and nanoparticle-based systems that contain targeting agents with the aim of actively target the tumour via a molecular recognition process.

Photodynamic Anti-Bacteria by Carbon Dots and Their Nano-Composites

The misuse of many types of broad-spectrum antibiotics leads to increased antimicrobial resistance. As a result, the development of a novel antibacterial agent is essential. Photodynamic antimicrobial chemotherapy (PACT) is becoming more popular due to its advantages in eliminating drug-resistant strains and providing broad-spectrum antibacterial resistance. Carbon dots (CDs), zero-dimensional nanomaterials with diameters smaller than 10 nm, offer a green and cost-effective alternative to PACT photosensitizers. This article reviewed the synthesis methods of antibacterial CDs as well as the recent progress of CDs and their nanocomposites in photodynamic sterilization, focusing on maximizing the bactericidal impact of CDs photosensitizers. This review establishes the base for future CDs development in the PACT field.

Deep-Tissue Activation of Photonanomedicines: An Update and Clinical Perspectives

Simple Summary

Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is a light-activated treatment modality, which is being clinically used and further developed for a number of premalignancies, solid tumors, and disseminated cancers. Nanomedicines that facilitate PDT (photonanomedicines, PNMs) have transformed its safety, efficacy, and capacity for multifunctionality. This review focuses on the state of the art in deep-tissue activation technologies for PNMs and explores how their preclinical use can evolve towards clinical translation by harnessing current clinically available instrumentation.

Abstract

With the continued development of nanomaterials over the past two decades, specialized photonanomedicines (light-activable nanomedicines, PNMs) have evolved to become excitable by alternative energy sources that typically penetrate tissue deeper than visible light. These sources include electromagnetic radiation lying outside the visible near-infrared spectrum, high energy particles, and acoustic waves, amongst others. Various direct activation mechanisms have leveraged unique facets of specialized nanomaterials, such as upconversion, scintillation, and radiosensitization, as well as several others, in order to activate PNMs. Other indirect activation mechanisms have leveraged the effect of the interaction of deeply penetrating energy sources with tissue in order to activate proximal PNMs. These indirect mechanisms include sonoluminescence and Cerenkov radiation. Such direct and indirect deep-tissue activation has been explored extensively in the preclinical setting to facilitate deep-tissue anticancer photodynamic therapy (PDT); however, clinical translation of these approaches is yet to be explored. This review provides a summary of the state of the art in deep-tissue excitation of PNMs and explores the translatability of such excitation mechanisms towards their clinical adoption. A special emphasis is placed on how current clinical instrumentation can be repurposed to achieve deep-tissue PDT with the mechanisms discussed in this review, thereby further expediting the translation of these highly promising strategies.

Metal-Organic Frameworks and Their Composites Towards Biomedical Applications

Owing to their unique features, including high cargo loading, biodegradability, and tailorability, metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) and their composites have attracted increasing attention in various fields. In this review, application strategies of MOFs and their composites in nanomedicine with emphasis on their functions are presented, from drug delivery, therapeutic agents for different diseases, and imaging contrast agents to sensor nanoreactors. Applications of MOF derivatives in nanomedicine are also introduced. Besides, we summarize different functionalities related to MOFs, which include targeting strategy, biomimetic modification, responsive moieties, and other functional decorations. Finally, challenges and prospects are highlighted about MOFs in future applications.

Near-infrared light-triggered β-NaYF4:Yb,Tm,Gd@MIL-100(Fe) nanomaterials for antibacterial applications

By inducing a photo-Fenton reaction under 980 nm light irradiation, β-NaYF4:Yb,Tm,Gd@MIL-100(Fe) could generate abundant ROS for antibacterial applications.

Chemical Biology Toolbox to Overcome Hypoxic Tumor Microenvironment of Photodynamic Therapy: A Review

Cancer is currently a disease that seriously threatens human health. Over the past few decades, researchers have continued to find ways to cure cancer. Currently, the most commonly used clinical...

Heterostructures Made of Upconversion Nanoparticles and Metal-Organic Frameworks for Biomedical Applications

Heterostructure nanoparticles (NPs), constructed by two single-component NPs with distinct nature and multifunctional properties, have attracted intensive interest in the past few years. Among them, heterostructures made of upconversion NPs (UCNPs) and metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) can not only integrate the advantageous characteristics (e.g., porosity, structural regularity) of MOFs with unique upconverted optical features of UCNPs, but also induce cooperative properties not observed either for single component due to their special optical or electronic communications. Recently, diverse UCNP-MOF heterostructures are designed and synthesized via different strategies and have demonstrated appealing potential for applications in biosensing and imaging, drug delivery, and photodynamic therapy (PDT). In this review, the synthesis strategies of UCNP-MOF heterostructures are first summarized, then the authors focus mainly on discussion of their biomedical applications, particularly as PDT agents for cancer treatment. Finally, the authors briefly outlook the current challenges and future perspectives of UCNP-MOF hybrid nanocomposites. The authors believe that this review will provide comprehensive understanding and inspirations toward recent advances of UCNP-MOF heterostructures.

Recent development of metal-organic framework nanocomposites for biomedical applications

Albeit metal-organic framework (MOF) composites have been extensively explored, reducing the size and dimensions of various contents within the composition, to the nanoscale regime, has recently presented unique opportunities for enhanced properties with the formation of MOF-based nanocomposites. Many distinctive strategies have been used to fabricate these nanocomposites such as through the introduction of nanoparticles (NPs) into a MOF precursor solution or vice versa to achieve a core-shell or heterostructure configuration. As such, MOF-based nanocomposites offer seemingly limitless possibilities and promising solutions for the vast range of applications across biomedical disciplines especially for improving in vivo implementation. In this review, we focus on the recent development of MOF-based nanocomposites, outline their classification according to the type of integrations (NPs, coating materials, and different MOF-derived nanocomposites), and direct special attention towards the various approaches and strategies employed to construct these nanocomposites for their prospective utilization in biomedical applications including biomimetic enzymes and photo, chemo, sonodynamic, starvation and hyperthermia therapies. Lastly, our work aims to highlight the exciting potential as well as the challenges of MOF-based nanocomposites to help guide future research as well as to contribute to the progress of MOF-based nanotechnology in biomedicine.

Photosensitizer-based metal-organic frameworks for highly effective photodynamic therapy

Photodynamic therapy (PDT) uses a photosensitizer, molecular oxygen, and visible light as an alternative clinical protocol against located malignant tumors and other diseases. More recently, PDT has been combined to immunotherapy as a promising option to treat metastatic cancer. However, previous generations of photosensitizers (PSs) revealed clinical difficulties such as long-term skin photosensitivity (first generation), the need for drug delivery vehicles (second generation), and intracellular self-aggregation (third generation), which have generated a somewhat confusing scenario in PDT approaches and evolution. Recently, metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) with exceptionally high PS loading as a building unit of MOF framework have emerged as fourth-generation PS and presented outstanding outcomes under pre-clinical studies. For PS-based MOFs, the inorganic building unit (metal ions/clusters) plays an important role as a coadjuvant in PDT to alleviate hypoxia, to decrease antioxidant species, to yield ROS, or to act as a contrast agent for imaging-guided therapy. In this review, we intend to carry out a broad update on the recent history and the characteristics of PS-based MOFs from basic chemistry to the structure relationship with biological application in PDT. The details and variables that result in different photophysics, size, and morphology, are discussed. Also, we present an overview of the achievements on the pre-clinical assays in combination with other strategies, including alleviating hypoxia in solid tumors, chemotherapy, and the most recent immunotherapy for cancer.

Ultra-high photoactive thiadiazolo[3,4-g]quinoxaline nanoparticles with active-targeting capability for deep photodynamic therapy

Improving the effective treatment depth of photodynamic therapy (PDT) is an important issue to resolve for its clinical application. In this study, a new biocompatible photosensitizer (PS), namely TQs-PEG4, based on thiadiazolo[3,4-g]quinoxaline (TQ) with ultra-high photoactive property is designed and synthesized. TQs-PEG4 possesses an ultra-high singlet oxygen quantum yield (Φ_Δ = 1.04). After encapsulating it with a biodegradable copolymer (DSPE-mPEG2000-cRGD), well distributed organic TQs-PEG4 nanoparticles (NPs) are formed with good water dispersity and excellent active tumor-targeting property. In vitro PDT experiments reveal that TQs-PEG4 NPs present excellent phototoxicities towards different cancer cell lines with an ultra-low dosage (<0.3 μg mL^-1). TQs-PEG4 NP mediated PDT significantly inhibited tumor growth even when the tumor was covered with a 6 mm thick piece of pork tissue under 660 nm laser irradiation. Both the histological analysis and biochemical testing demonstrated the good biosafety of TQs-PEG4 NPs towards mice. This study not only develops an ultra-high photoactive organic PS, TQs-PEG4, but also proves the great potential of TQs-PEG4 NPs for application in deep PDT.

A NIR-triggered multifunctional nanoplatform mediated by Hsp70 siRNA for chemo-hypothermal photothermal synergistic therapy

Recently, hypothermal photothermal therapy (HPTT) seemed essential for the future clinical transformation of cancer optical therapies. However, at a lower working temperature, heat shock proteins (HSPs) seriously affect the anti-tumor effect of HPTT. This work reports a reasonable design of a dual-responsive nanoplatform for the synergistic treatment of chemotherapy and HPTT. We adopted a one-step method to wrap indocyanine green (ICG) into imidazole skeleton-8 (ZIF-8) and further loaded it with the chemotherapy drug doxorubicin (DOX). Furthermore, we introduced Hsp-70 siRNA to block the affection of HSPs at an upstream node, thereby avoiding the side effects of traditional heat shock protein inhibitors. The prepared ZIF-8@ICG@DOX@siRNA nanoparticles (ZID-Si NPs) could significantly improve the stability of siRNA to effectively down-regulate the expression of HSP70 protein during the photothermal therapy, thus realizing the pH-controlled and NIR-triggered release of the chemotherapeutical drug DOX. Moreover, tumors were also imaged accurately by ICG wrapped in ZID-Si nanoparticles. After the evaluation of the in vitro and in vivo photothermal effect as well as the anti-tumor activity, we found that the added Hsp-70 siRNA enhanced the synergistic anti-cancer activity of HPTT and chemotherapy. In summary, this work holds great potential in cancer treatment, and suggests better efficacy of synergistic chemo/HPTT than the single-agent therapy.