A Self-Evaluating Photothermal Therapeutic Nanoparticle

Abstract

Today, tumor therapy and its therapeutic efficiency evaluation are conducted separately, and current imaging techniques cannot evaluate tumor-therapeutic effects in real time. Therefore, it is of great importance to develop highly efficient theranostic strategies which are able to evaluate their tumor-therapeutic effects in real time. In this work, by rational design of a small molecular near-infrared probe Cys(StBu)-Asp-Glu-Val-Asp-Lys(Cypate)-CBT (Cy-CBT) and using a CBT-Cys click condensation reaction, we facilely prepare an intelligent nanoparticle Cy-CBT-NP which is able to evaluate its photothermal therapy (PTT) efficiency on tumors by fluorescence "Turn-On". Fluorescence of Cy-CBT-NP is quenched and photothermal responsive. Upon caspase 3 (Casp3) cleavage of its DEVD substrates, Cy-CBT-NP disassembles to turn the fluorescence "On", which in turn evaluates the PTT efficiency of the nanoparticle on cells and tumors in real time. We envision that our smart strategy could be applied for PTT and real-time evaluation of the therapeutic efficiency of solid tumors in the near future.

Near‐Infrared II Light‐Triggered Robust Carbon Radical Generation for Combined Photothermal and Thermodynamic Therapy of Hypoxic Tumors

“…Compared with PDT, the superiority of PTT is that it does not rely on oxygen and can effectively kill cancer cells in both normoxic and hypoxic environments. [ 13–18 ] Thermodynamic therapy (TDT) as another therapeutic modality for hypoxic tumor has recently been exploited. Unlike PDT, TDT kills hypoxic cancer cells via oxygen‐independent free radicals, especially carbon radicals, which can be generated in the absence of oxygen from carbon materials (graphene oxide etc.)…”

Intelligent Molybdenum Disulfide Complexes as a Platform for Cooperative Imaging‐Guided Tri‐Mode Chemo‐Photothermo‐Immunotherapy

“…[ 3 ] In addition, nanoplatforms can be designed to have tumor microenvironment (such as acidic pH, glutathione, enzyme, or reactive oxygen species (ROS))‐responsive drug release profile to maximize the tumor therapy effect. [ 4 ] Furthermore, various inorganic or organic–inorganic hybrid platforms with photothermal, catalytic, or ultrasound responsiveness have been developed to achieve photothermal therapy (PTT), [ 5 ] chemodynamic therapy, [ 6 ] or sonodynamic therapy. [ 7 ] Importantly, by combination of an immunotherapeutic component, nanoplatforms can be designed to boost tumor immunotherapy.…”

Biological functions of supramolecular assemblies of small molecules in the cellular environment

“…SASMs are capable of modulating cell differentiation, 8 maintaining cell growth, 9–15 inducing cell death, 7,16–20 inhibiting cancer cell growth in vivo , 21 or promoting the proliferation of stem cells. 22 These facts indicate that SASMs are able to interact with cells and to exhibit emergent properties – that is, specific biological functions that are drastically different from their individual molecules 23 – a phenomenon that is more common and important than one previously thought. Thus, it is worthwhile to review the work on the biological functions of SASMs in the cellular environment for the future development of SASMs.…”