Biodegradable Fe-Doped Vanadium Disulfide Theranostic Nanosheets for Enhanced Sonodynamic/Chemodynamic Therapy

Abstract

Sonodynamic therapy (SDT), a noninvasive and highly penetrating tumor therapy, which employs ultrasound and sonosensitizers, has attracted extensive attention because of its ability to treat deep tumors. However, many current sonosensitizers have drawbacks in phototoxicity and limited sonodynamic effect. Herein, as a novel kind of sonosensitizer, iron-doped vanadium disulfide nanosheets (Fe-VS2 NSs) are constructed by a high-temperature organic-solution method and further modified with polyethylene glycol (PEG). With Fe doping, the sonodynamic effect of Fe-VS2 NSs is greatly enhanced, owing to the prolonged electron–hole recombination time. Simultaneously, such Fe-VS2-PEG NSs as a good Fenton agent can be utilized for chemodynamic therapy (CDT) by using the endogenous H2O2 in the tumor microenvironment (TME). Moreover, the multivalent Fe and V elements in the Fe-VS2 NSs can consume glutathione to amplify the reactive oxygen species-induced oxidative stress by SDT and CDT. Utilizing the strong near-infrared optical absorbance and enhanced magnetic resonance (MR) contrast by Fe-VS2 NSs, photoacoustic/MR biomodal imaging reveals a high accumulation of Fe-VS2-PEG NSs in the tumor. The great tumor suppression effect is then achieved by the in vivo combined CDT&SDT treatment. Importantly, most of the injected Fe-VS2-PEG NSs can be gradually decomposed and excreted from the mice, making them as safe sonosensitizers for cancer treatment. Our work highlights a new type of biodegradable sonosensitizer with the ability of regulating TME for applications in cancer theranostics.

Chemodynamic Therapy via Fenton and Fenton‐Like Nanomaterials: Strategies and Recent Advances

“…Therefore, the cancer treatments combining SDT and CDT have been developed and have obtained satisfactory anticancer outcomes. [ 157–159 ] For instance, Lei et al. constructed iron‐doped vanadium disulfide nanosheets (termed Fe‐VS 2 NSs) through a high‐temperature organic‐solution method and modified the NSs with PEG to afford Fe‐VS 2 ‐PEG NSs for synergistic SDT and CDT.…”

“…constructed iron‐doped vanadium disulfide nanosheets (termed Fe‐VS 2 NSs) through a high‐temperature organic‐solution method and modified the NSs with PEG to afford Fe‐VS 2 ‐PEG NSs for synergistic SDT and CDT. [ 157 ] VS 2 is a type of semiconductor material, in which the electron transfer reaction can easily occur under the US irradiation for 1 O 2 generation. Owing to Fe doping, the sonodynamic effect of Fe‐VS 2 ‐PEG NSs was greatly enhanced because of the prolonged electron–hole recombination time, and as a result, the NSs could efficiently produce 1 O 2 under the US irradiation.…”

Manipulating Intratumoral Fenton Chemistry for Enhanced Chemodynamic and Chemodynamic‐Synergized Multimodal Therapy

“…SDT is an emerging cancer‐therapy alternative to PDT for solid‐organ tumor and has been considered for the development of ECDT‐based bimodal therapy because SDT can use ultrasound to trigger the explosive generation of ROS. [ 128 ] The therapeutic principle of ECDT‐SDT bimodal therapy is basically similar to that of ECDT‐PDT bimodal therapy, except that sonosensitizers replace photosensitizers. Typical organic sonosensitizers such as porphyrin derivatives and other fat‐soluble small molecules can chelate with Fenton ions to prepare ECDT‐SDT nanotherapeutics.…”

Tumor microenvironment-responsive fenton nanocatalysts for intensified anticancer treatment

“…Inorganic sonosensitizers are more stable than organic sonosensitizers, and the most representative inorganic sonosensitizer is TiO 2 . In addition, inorganic sonosensitizers have less toxic and side effects on the human body, and it is easy to control the size and morphology of inorganic sonosensitizers so that inorganic sonosensitizers can accumulate in tumor cells better [ 142 ]. At present, the trend of designing inorganic sonosensitizers is to make inorganic sonosensitizers multifunctional, so as to realize multi-mode therapy.…”