A multifunctional nanoplatform based on chlorin e6 for fluorescence imaging-guided sonodynamic and chemodynamic cancer therapy

Emerging multimodal therapy strategies based on sonodynamic therapy (SDT) are foreseen as foundational in forthcoming tumor theranostics. Nevertheless, the therapeutic effects of SDT are limited by the hypoxic environment of the tumor microenvironment (TME). Based on this, nano-enzymes are envisioned to decompose excess hydrogen peroxide in the tumor microenvironment to generate oxygen. Here, PEG-PLGA-coated CeO 2 nanoparticles loaded with the sonosensitizer chlorin e6 (CC@PP) were prepared for cancer therapy based on a nanoprecipitation method. CC@PP possesses highly efficient catalase-like (CAT) properties, which are able to decompose overexpressed H 2 O 2 into O 2 and enhance the effect of O 2 -dependent sonodynamic therapy. In addition, it can act as a peroxidase (POD) at lower pH for chemodynamic therapy. Under the guidance of the US, CC@PP can perform synergistic sonodynamic and chemodynamic cancer therapy and inhibit tumor growth efficiently, CC@PP is biocompatible, has good in vivo fluorescence imaging effect, and has integrated diagnostic and therapeutic properties, which can be effectively aggregated at the tumor area. In this study, the effect of sonodynamic therapy was enhanced by improving the hypoxic environment in the TME, and multimodal synergistic enhancement of cancer therapy was realized.