Two-dimensional nanomaterials based on near-infrared response with black phosphorus-loaded doxorubicin for photothermal therapy of acute kidney injury caused by renal cancer

The high recurrence and metastasis rates of renal cell carcinoma (RCC) necessitate novel therapeutic strategies. Although chemotherapy is widely used, it often leads to systemic toxicity and acute kidney injury (AKI). This study developed a near-infrared (NIR)-responsive two-dimensional black phosphorus (BP) nanosheet drug delivery system loaded with doxorubicin (DOX) for photothermal therapy (PTT) of RCC, aiming to reduce nephrotoxicity. BP nanosheets exhibit excellent photothermal conversion efficiency under NIR irradiation, enabling localized hyperthermia for tumor ablation and triggering DOX release. Both in vitro and in vivo experiments demonstrated that BP-DOX induces apoptosis in RCC cells and suppresses tumor growth upon NIR irradiation. This study further revealed that this nanocomposite alleviates oxidative stress and inflammation in renal tissues, thereby preserving renal function. This work highlights the potential of the BP nanoplatform for synergistic chemotherapy–photothermal therapy in RCC while mitigating kidney damage, offering a new approach to overcome chemotherapy-related complications.