A novel boronate-linked polydopamine-poloxamer 407 loaded zinc phthalocyanine nanoparticles for photothermal and photodynamic synergy therapy

Combination therapy and the drug delivery in response to the tumor microenvironment can effectively improve the efficacy of anticancer therapy. Polymeric nanoparticles can increase the solubility of water-insoluble drugs and have been evaluated as carriers for anti-cancer drugs in several clinical trials . In this paper, zinc phthalocyanine-encapsulated with a boronate-linked polydopamine-poloxamers 407 nanoparticles were developed for pH response and reactive oxygen species (ROS) response release, as well as synergistic photothermal and photodynamic effects. These nanoparticles exhibited a favorable size of 75.02 ± 1.12  nm , stability within 28 days, pH and ROS release up to 57.29% within 84 h, and 73.5% inhibition of A549 cells at a concentration of 5 μg/mL. Overall, our work provides an effective strategy for the encapsulation of hydrophobic photosensitizers , combined PDT and PTT therapy.