A facile and robust one-pot approach to prepare a theranostic nanoplatform, based on chelation between Gd3+ and hypericin photosensitizer (PS) and their controlled in situ hydrolysis precipitation, was developed. In this strategy, PS drugs and Gd3+ were directly used as building blocks to construct theranostic nanoparticles, resulting in a greatly increased active substance-loading efficiency and ensuring their theranostic effect. The resulting nanoparticles have multifunction capabilities for nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) imaging and anticancer activity through adenosine triphosphate (ATP) deprivation and heavy atom effect (HAE)-improved photodynamic therapy (PDT) mechanisms.
Inhibiting the function of P-glycoprotein (P-gp) transporter, which causes drug efflux through adenosine triphosphate (ATP)-dependent manner, has become an effective strategy to conquer multidrug resistance (MDR) of cancer cells. However, there remains challenges for effective co-delivery, sequential release of P-gp modulator and chemotherapeutic agent. In this work, a novel type of core–shell nanoparticle is reported. It can independently encapsulate a high amount (about 683 µg mg −1 ) of chemotherapeutic agent doxorubicin (DOX) in the mesoporous polydopamine (MPDA) core and glucose oxidase (GOx) in the zeolite imidazolate frameworks-8 (ZIF-8) shell, namely MPDA@ZIF-8/DOX+GOx. The fast release of GOx triggered by acid-sensitive degradation of the ZIF-8 shell consumes glucose to starve cancer cells for ATP deprivation and effective suppress ATP-dependent drug efflux in advance, and then effectively facilitates the accumulation of DOX in MCF-7/ADR cancer cells. Experiments in vitro and in vivo demonstrate that the fabricated nanosystem can dramatically improve anticancer effects for MDR through sequential release property and exhibit excellent biocompatibility. Overall, this work reveals new insights in the use of GOx for MDR treatment.
Liu Kaiyuan,Zhang Li,Lu Hengli,Wen Yingfei,Bi Bo,Wang Guocheng,Jiang Yingying,Zeng Leli,Zhao Jing
Background Mild-temperature photothermal therapy (mild PTT) is a safe and promising tumor therapeutic modality by alleviating the damage of healthy tissues around the tumor due to high temperature. However, its therapeutic efficiency is easily restricted by heat shock proteins (HSPs). Thus, exploitation of innovative approaches of inhibiting HSPs to enhance mild PTT efficiency is crucial for the clinical application of PTT.Results Herein, an innovative strategy is reported: pyroptosis-boosted mild PTT based on a Mn-gallate nanoformulation. The nanoformulation was constructed via the coordination of gallic acid (GA) and Mn2+. It shows an acid-activated degradation and releases the Mn2+ and GA for up-regulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS), mitochondrial dysfunction and pyroptosis, which can result in cellular ATP deprivation via both the inhibiton of ATP generation and incresed ATP efflux. The reduction of ATP and accumulation of ROS provide a powerful approach for inhibiting the expression of HSPs, which enables the nanoformulation-mediated mild PTT.Conclusion sOur in-vitro and in-vivo results demonstrate that this strategy of pyroptosis-assited PTT can achieve efficient mild PTT efficiency for osteosarcoma therapy.Graphical Abstract