Cyanine‐Anchored Silica Nanochannels for Light‐Driven Synergistic Thermo‐Chemotherapy

Abstract

Smart nanoparticles are increasingly important in a variety of applications such as cancer therapy. However, it is still a major challenge to develop light-responsive nanoparticles that can maximize the potency of synergistic thermo-chemotherapy under light irradiation. Here, spatially confined cyanine-anchored silica nanochannels loaded with chemotherapeutic doxorubicin (CS-DOX-NCs) for light-driven synergistic cancer therapy are introduced. CS-DOX-NCs possess a J-type aggregation conformation of cyanine dye within the nanochannels and encapsulate doxorubicin through the π-π interaction with cyanine dye. Under near-infrared light irradiation, CS-DOX-NCs produce the enhanced photothermal conversion efficiency through the maximized nonradiative transition of J-type Cypate aggregates, trigger the light-driven drug release through the destabilization of temperature-sensitive π-π interaction, and generate the effective intracellular translocation of doxorubicin from the lysosomes to cytoplasma through reactive oxygen species-mediated lysosomal disruption, thereby causing the potent in vivo hyperthermia and intracellular trafficking of drug into cytoplasma at tumors. Moreover, CS-DOX-NCs possess good resistance to photobleaching and preferable tumor accumulation, facilitating severe photoinduced cell damage, and subsequent synergy between photothermal and chemotherapeutic therapy with tumor ablation. These findings provide new insights of light-driven nanoparticles for synergistic cancer therapy.

Cyanine based Nanoprobes for Cancer Theranostics

“…As designed silica nanocarriers should meet specific requirements adhered to minimum photobleaching and enhanced photoconversion efficiency for better photothermal efficiency of cyanine dyes both in vitro and in vivo. Recently developed MSNs platforms facilitate diffusion of organic compounds through silica nanochannels followed by subsequent release when exposed to laser irradiations . For example, a newly designed porous silicon NPs conjugated to IR820 photothermal agent and anticancer drug DOX have preferably demonstrated higher synergistic chemo‐photothermal therapy .…”

“…Earlier based on silicon strategy, Dai et al linked two J‐aggregates of cyanine dyes to fabricate a freestanding nanohybrid cerasome exhibiting outstanding stability . Recently, Deng et al utilized this concept to conceive spatially confined cyanine‐anchored silica NPs encapsulating DOX for synergetic photo‐chemotherapy ( Figure a) . Of major interest is enhanced photothermal conversion efficiency to induce severe damage in 4T1 cells owing to maximized nonradiative transition of J‐type cypate aggregates.…”

“…Recent progress highlights fabrication of small diameter metallic NPs showing excellent renal clearance properties with remarkable imaging combined phototherapeutic efficiency . In addition, stimuli‐responsive silica NPs with hierarchical structures are developed to improve drug loading, prevent premature drug release and improve photophysical properties of encapsulated agents . However, complexity arisen due to sensitivity of the system (e.g.…”

Ultrastable Near‐Infrared Conjugated‐Polymer Nanoparticles for Dually Photoactive Tumor Inhibition

“…The photothermal conversion efficiency of CP‐NPs was further measured through temperature monitoring during a cycle of heat‐up and cooling (Figure S6, Supporting Information) . CP‐NPs was found to possess a photothermal conversion efficiency of 34.7%, which is preferable to those of existing photothermal materials such as cyanine dyes (e.g., ≈26.6%) and gold nanorods (e.g., ≈21.0%) . Presumably, the good photothermal conversion of CP‐NPs might result from their low radiative transition rates from the high electron‐deficiency of acceptor isoindigo derivative,[12f] in correspondence with their undetected quantum yield (Φ F ) using ICG (Φ F = 0.106) as a reference (Figure S7, Supporting Information) .…”

An Acceptor–Donor–Acceptor Structured Small Molecule for Effective NIR Triggered Dual Phototherapy of Cancer

“…[ 44 ] PCE of FA‐CNPs is ≈12‐fold higher than that of ICG (≈3.1%) [ 13 ] (ICG is an FDA‐approved NIR contrast agent and is comparable to previously reported PTT agents such as cyanine dyes (≈26.6%) and gold nanorods (≈21.0%). [ 45–47 ]…”