Albumin-based nanosystem for dual-modality imaging-guided chem-phototherapy against immune-cold triple-negative breast cancer

Triple-negative breast cancer is a highly aggressive and metastatic tumor;diagnosing it in the early stages is still difficult,and the prognosis for conventional radio-chemotherapy and immunotreatment is not promising due to cancer’s immunosuppressive microenvironment.The utilization of protein-based nanosystem has proven to be effective in delivering agents with limited adverse effects,yet the combination of diagnosis and treatment remains a difficult challenge.This research took advantage of natural albumin and organic molecules to construct a self-assemble core-shell nanostructure combining with superparamagnetic iron oxide nanocrystals and heptamethine cyanine dye IR780 through non-covalent interactions.This nanocomposite successfully decreased the transverse relaxation time of the magnetic resonance hydrogen nucleus,resulting in outstanding T2 imaging,as well as emitting near-infrared II fluorescence,thereby the resulting dual-modality imaging tool was applied to improve diagnostic competency.It is noteworthy that the nanocomposites exhibited impressive enzyme-like catalytic and photothermal capabilities,resulting in a successful activation of the immune system to efficiently suppress distant metastatic lesions in vivo.Consequently,this nano-drug-based therapy could be an advantageous asset in reinforcing the immune system and hindering the growth and reappearance of the immune-cold breast cancer.