Construction of thiol-capped ultrasmall Au-Bi bimetallic nanoparticles for X-ray CT imaging and enhanced antitumor therapy efficiency.

Thiol capped gold nanoparticles with small size, high dispersity, and broad light absorption covering ultraviolet (UV) to near infrared (NIR) region have been developed for catalysis, fluorescence imaging and photodynamic therapy (PDT). The constitution of the metal core in such nanoparticles can strongly influence the luminescence, catalysis, and stability properties. However, to date, a corresponding investigation of the influence of the metallic core on the generation of reaction oxygen species (ROS) and its therapeutic efficiency towards tumor cells remains to be lacking.

Insight into the Luminescence Alternation of Sub-30 nm Upconversion Nanoparticles with a Small NaHoF Core and Multi-Gd /Yb Coexisting Shells.

It is absolutely imperative for development of material science to adjust upconversion luminescence (UCL) properties of highly doped upconversion nanoparticles (UCNPs) with special optical properties and prominent application prospects. In this work, featuring NaHoF @NaYbF (Ho@Yb) structures, sub-30 nm core-multishell UCNPs are synthesized with a small NaHoF core and varied Gd /Yb coexisting shells. X-ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy, UCL spectrum, UCL lifetime, and pump power dependence are adhibited for characterization.

Rapid Decomposition and Catalytic Cascade Nanoplatforms Based on Enzymes and Mn-Etched Dendritic Mesoporous Silicon for MRI-Guided Synergistic Therapy.

The endogenous tumor microenvironment (TME) can signally influence the therapeutic effects of cancer, so it is necessary to explore effective synergistic therapeutic strategies based on changing of the TME. Here, a catalytic cascade nanoplatform based on manganese (Mn)-etched dendritic mesoporous silicon nanoparticles (designated as DMMnSiO NPs) loaded with indocyanine green (ICG) and natural glucose oxidase (GOD) is established (designated as DIG nanocomposites). As the Mn-O bonds in DMMnSiO NPs are susceptive to mildly acidic and reducing environments, the DIG nanocomposites can be rapidly decomposed because of the biodegradation of DMMnSiO NPs once internalized into the tumor by the consumption of glutathione (GSH) in TME to weaken the antioxidant capability of the tumors.

Upconversion-mediated ZnFeO nanoplatform for NIR-enhanced chemodynamic and photodynamic therapy.

ZnFeO, a semiconductor catalyst with high photocatalytic activity, is ultrasensitive to ultraviolet (UV) light and tumor HO for producing reactive oxygen species (ROS). Thereby, ZnFeO can be used for photodynamic therapy (PDT) from direct electron transfer and the newly defined chemodynamic therapy (CDT) from the Fenton reaction. However, UV light has confined applicability because of its high phototoxicity, low penetration, and speedy attenuation in the biotissue.

Switchable up-conversion luminescence bioimaging and targeted photothermal ablation in one core-shell-structured nanohybrid by alternating near-infrared light.

In photothermal therapy (PTT), simultaneous achievement of imaging and hyperthermia mediated by a single laser inevitably risks damaging normal tissues before treatment. Herein, a core-shell-structured GdOF:Yb/Er@(GNRs@BSA) nanohybrid was designed and fabricated by conjugating gold nanorods (GNRs) on the surfaces of GdOF:Yb/Er nanoparticles by a facile procedure. By alternating near-infrared (NIR) light appropriately, high photothermal efficiency for PTT and good up-conversion luminescence (UCL) imaging can be achieved in this structure, which can substantially solve the heat-induced risk during the theranostic process.

Polypyrrole-coated UCNPs@mSiO@ZnO nanocomposite for combined photodynamic and photothermal therapy.

Designing multifunctional nanoplatforms for the purpose of simultaneous theranostic modalities is critical to address the challenges of cancer therapy. Also, single modalities of phototherapy, including photothermal therapy (PTT) and photodynamic therapy (PDT), cannot meet the requirements of highly efficient treatment. Here, a core-shell-shell nanostructure consisting of a core of upconversion nanoparticles (UCNPs), a layer of mesoporous silica with anchored ZnO nanodots, and an outer layer of polypyrrole (PPy) was developed.

A smart tumor microenvironment responsive nanoplatform based on upconversion nanoparticles for efficient multimodal imaging guided therapy.

Near-infrared (NIR) light-induced imaging-guided cancer therapy has been studied extensively in recent years. Herein, we report a novel theranostic nanoplatform by modifying polyoxometalate (POM) nanoclusters onto mesoporous silica-coated upconversion nanoparticles (UCNPs), followed by loading doxorubicin (DOX) in the mesopores and coating a folate-chitosan shell onto the surface. In this nanoplatform, the core-shell structured UCNPs (NaYF4:Yb,Er@NaYF4:Yb,Nd) showed special upconverting luminescence (UCL) when irradiated with high-penetration 808 nm NIR light, and the doped Yb and Nd ions endowed the sample with CT imaging properties, thus achieving a dual-mode imaging function.

Multifunctional Theranostic Nanoplatform Based on Fe-mTaO@CuS-ZnPc/PCM for Bimodal Imaging and Synergistically Enhanced Phototherapy.

Multifunctional nanotheranostic agent with high performance for tumor site-specific generation of singlet oxygen (O) as well as imaging-guidance is crucial to laser-mediated photodynamic therapy. Here, we introduced a versatile strategy to design a smart nanoplatform using phase change material (PCM) to encapsulate photosensitizer (zinc phthalocyanine, ZnPc) in copper sulfide loaded Fe-doped tantalum oxide (Fe-mTaO@CuS) nanoparticles. When irradiated by 808 nm laser, the PCM is melted due to the hyperthermia effect from CuS nanoparticles, inducing the release of ZnPc to produce toxic O triggered by 650 nm light with very low power density (5 mW/cm).

Carbon-Dot-Decorated TiO Nanotubes toward Photodynamic Therapy Based on Water-Splitting Mechanism.

The use of visible light to produce reactive oxygen species (ROS) from renewable water splitting is a highly promising means in photodynamic therapy (PDT). Up to date, diverse inorganic-organic hybrid materials developed as photosensitizers still undergo low therapeutic efficiency and/or poor stability. Herein, a kind of carbon-nanodot-decorated TiO nanotubes (CDots/TiO NTs) composite is developed and applied for photodynamic therapy.

Glutathione Mediated Size-Tunable UCNPs-Pt(IV)-ZnFe O Nanocomposite for Multiple Bioimaging Guided Synergetic Therapy.

Here a multifunctional nanoplatform (upconversion nanoparticles (UCNPs)-platinum(IV) (Pt(IV))-ZnFe O , denoted as UCPZ) is designed for collaborative cancer treatment, including photodynamic therapy (PDT), chemotherapy, and Fenton reaction. In the system, the UCNPs triggered by near-infrared light can convert low energy photons to high energy ones, which act as the UV-vis source to simultaneously mediate the PDT effect and Fenton's reaction of ZnFe O nanoparticles. Meanwhile, the Pt(IV) prodrugs can be reduced to high virulent Pt(II) by glutathione in the cancer cells, which can bond to DNA and inhibit the copy of DNA.

Au Nanoclusters Sensitized Black TiO Nanotubes for Enhanced Photodynamic Therapy Driven by Near-Infrared Light.

The low reactive oxygen species production capability and the shallow tissue penetration of excited light (UV) are still two barriers in photodynamic therapy (PDT). Here, Au cluster anchored black anatase TiO nanotubes (abbreviated as Au /B-TiO NTs) are synthesized by gaseous reduction of anatase TiO NTs and subsequent deposition of noble metal. The Au /B-TiO NTs with thickness of about 2 nm exhibit excellent PDT performance.

Multifunctional UCNPs@MnSiO@g-CN nanoplatform: improved ROS generation and reduced glutathione levels for highly efficient photodynamic therapy.

Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is a novel technique that has been extensively employed in cancer treatment; it utilizes reactive oxygen species to kill malignant cells. However, poor performance of the photosensitizer itself, limited penetration depth and the overexpression of glutathione (GSH) in cancer cells are the major obstacles facing the actual clinical application of PDT. Inspired by the challenges mentioned above, here we propose multifunctional nanoparticles utilizing mesoporous manganese silicate (MnSiO)-coated upconversion nanoparticles (UCNPs) as nanocarriers for loading highly fluorescent graphitic-phase carbon nitride quantum dots (g-CN QDs) to simultaneously act as a photosensitive drug and imaging agent.

Lanthanide-doped bismuth oxobromide nanosheets for self-activated photodynamic therapy.

Low tissue penetration depth of the excited light and complicated synthetic procedures greatly hinder the clinical application of photodynamic therapy (PDT). Here we present a facile and mass production route to fabricate Yb/Tm co-doped BiOBr nanosheets. In contrast to the complicated combination of photosensitizers (PSs) with up-conversion nanoparticles (UCNPs), which generates a PDT effect by a fluorescence resonance energy transfer process from UCNPs to PSs upon near-infrared light excitation, this as-synthesized material can be self-activated by deep-penetrating 980 nm laser light to produce a large amount of reactive oxygen species, giving rise to a high PDT efficiency which has been proven by in vitro and in vivo therapeutic assays.

Multifunctional mesoporous ZrO encapsulated upconversion nanoparticles for mild NIR light activated synergistic cancer therapy.

Desirable nanosystem that could not only deliver drugs safely and effectively into tumor sites, but also be expected to serve as photosensitizer to realize the photodynamic therapeutic function, would be of great significance in the synergistic cancer therapy. To perform this task, a multifunctional nanosystem has been developed for markedly enhanced cancer therapeutic efficacy by loading chemotherapy agent (doxorubicin hydrochloride, DOX) and photosensitive drug chlorin e6 (Ce6) into the channels of mesoporous zirconium dioxide (ZrO) layer which coats on Nd-doped upconversion nanoparticles (UCNPs). As a temperature sensitive phase change material (PCM), the loaded tetradecanol was served as switch for control release of DOX and reactive oxygen species (ROS) in the condition of enhanced temperature triggered by the near infrared (NIR) light irradiation.

Doxorubicin-conjugated CuS nanoparticles for efficient synergistic therapy triggered by near-infrared light.

To integrate photothermal therapy (PTT) with chemotherapy for improving anticancer efficiency, we developed a novel and multifunctional doxorubicin (DOX) conjugated copper sulfide nanoparticle (CuS-DOX NP) drug delivery system using hydrazone bonds to conjugate carboxyl-functionalized copper sulfide nanoparticles (CuS NPs) and DOX. On the other hand, the hydrazone bonds could be used for improving the DOX release rate (88.0%) by cleavage in a mildly acidic environment irradiated by 808 nm laser light, which could greatly promote chemo-therapeutic efficacy.

Synthesis, luminescence, and anti-tumor properties of MgSiO3:Eu-DOX-DPP-RGD hollow microspheres.

In this report, MgSiO3:Eu-DOX-DPP-RGD hollow microspheres employed for simultaneous imaging and anti-cancer therapy have been designed by sequentially loading the anti-tumor drugs doxorubicin (DOX), light-activated platinum(iv) pro-drug PPD, and a targeted peptide of NH2-Gly-Arg-Gly-Asp-Ser (RGD) onto MgSiO3:Eu mesoporous hollow spheres, which were synthesized using solid SiO2 spheres as sacrificed template by a facile hydrothermal process based on the Kirkendall effect. The photoluminescence intensity of MgSiO3:Eu has been optimized, which can emit a recognized red signal in vitro and in vivo under modest ultraviolet (UV) irradiation. It was found that the platform has high biocompatibility and could become intracellular through fast and effective endocytosis with the aid of the targeted peptide RGD, and chemotherapeutic drugs DOX and light-activated platinum(iv) pro-drug DPP that can be released from the carrier to induce an obvious inhabitation effect to HeLa cancer cells (survival rate of only 17.