Prodrug‐Loaded Zirconium Carbide Nanosheets as a Novel Biophotonic Nanoplatform for Effective Treatment of Cancer

Abstract

Conventional chemotherapy and photothermal therapy (PTT) face many major challenges, including systemic toxicity, low bioavailability, ineffective tissue penetration, chemotherapy/hyperthermia‐induced inflammation, and tumor angiogenesis. A versatile nanomedicine offers an exciting opportunity to circumvent the abovementioned limitations for their successful translation into clinical practice. Here, a promising biophotonic nanoplatform is developed based on the zirconium carbide (ZrC) nanosheet as a deep PTT‐photosensitizer and on‐demand designed anticancer prodrug SN38‐Nif, which is released and activated by photothermia and tumor‐overexpressed esterase. In vitro and in vivo experimental evidence shows the potent anticancer effects of the integrated ZrC@prodrug biophotonic nanoplatform by specifically targeting malignant cells, chemotherapy/hyperthermia‐induced tumor inflammation, and angiogenesis. In mouse models, the ZrC@prodrug system markedly inhibits tumor recurrence, metastasis, inflammation and angiogenesis. The findings unravel a promising biophotonic strategy for precision treatment of cancer.

Mutual Benefit between Cu(II) and Polydopamine for Improving Photothermal–Chemodynamic Therapy

“…Photothermal therapy (PTT) has been deemed to be a promising cancer treatment modality, relying on photothermal transducing agents (PTAs) to absorb near-infrared (NIR) light and transform it into local thermotherapy to ablate tumors. However, the heat shock response weakens the PTT effect. − Chemodynamic therapy (CDT), an emerging therapeutic strategy, has attracted a great deal of attention in recent years. − CDT uses the Fenton reaction or the Fenton-like reaction to generate a highly reactive hydroxyl radical ( • OH) that is the most harmful reactive oxygen species (ROS) under the catalysis of versatile metal cations, e.g., Fe 2+ , Fe 3+ , Cu + , Mn 2+ , and Mn 3+ . − Nevertheless, glutathione (GSH) is overexpressed in the tumor microenvironment (TME), and it exhibits a potent scavenging effect on the highly reactive • OH and diminishes the efficacy of CDT. , Hence, combination therapy has attracted extensive attention for alleviating the shortcomings of monotherapy and enhancing the treatment efficacy. − …”

Review of Functionalized Nanomaterials for Photothermal Therapy of Cancers

“…For example, zirconium carbide nanosheets can efficiently ablate tumors through the light and heat generated locally under NIR irradiation (1064 nm). 255 However, tissue absorption and laser scattering have a large negative impact on the PCE of 2D MXenes for tumor thermal ablation. Compared with the commonly used NIR, NIR-II has a higher penetration depth and a better maximum allowable irradiation dose, which are outstanding advantages in phototherapy.…”

“…Therefore, 2D MXenes may have great application potential in PTT. For example, zirconium carbide nanosheets can efficiently ablate tumors through the light and heat generated locally under NIR irradiation (1064 nm) . However, tissue absorption and laser scattering have a large negative impact on the PCE of 2D MXenes for tumor thermal ablation.…”

Can the Union of Prodrug Therapy and Nanomedicine Lead to Better Cancer Management?

“…SN38 (a DNA topoisomerase inhibitor) and NiF which inhibits COX-2; inhibition of COX-2 suppresses angiogenesis and subsequently the growth and spread of malignant tumor cells. [62] Further, instead of packing prodrugs into light-responsive nanovesicles, prodrug activating agents can also be packed. This is especially helpful for prodrugs that require nonindigenous enzymes.…”