2D graphene oxide-L-arginine-soybean lecithin nanogenerator for synergistic photothermal and NO gas therapy

Nitric oxide(NO) gas therapy has been regarded as a promising strategy for cancer treatment. However,its therapeutic efficiency is still unsatisfying due to the limitations of monotherapy. Previous preclinical and clinical studies have shown that combination therapy could significantly enhance therapeutic efficiency. Herein, a graphene oxide(GO)-L-arginine(L-Arg, a natural NO donor) hybrid nanogenerator is developed followed by surface functionalization of soybean lecithin(SL) for synergistic enhancement of cancer treatment through photothermal and gas therapy. The resultant GO-Arg-SL nanogenerator not only exhibited good biocompatibility and excellent endocytosis ability, but also exhibited excellent photothermal conversion capability and high sensitivity to release NO within tumor microenvironment via inducible NO synthase(i NOS) catalyzation. Moreover, the produced hyperthermia and intracellular NO could synergistically kill cancer cells both in vitro and in vivo. More importantly, this nanogenerator can efficiently eliminate tumor while inhibiting the tumor recurrence because of the immunogenic cell death(ICD) elicited by NIR laser-triggered hyperthermia and the immune response activation by massive NO generation. We envision that the GO-Arg-SL nanogenerator could provide a potential strategy for synergistic photothermal and gas therapy.

Manganese-doped mesoporous polydopamine nanoagent for T1-T2 magnetic resonance imaging and tumor therapy

Theranostic nanodrugs combining magnetic resonance imaging(MRI)and cancer therapy have attracted extensive interest in cancer diagnosis and treatment.Herein,a manganese(Mn)-doped mesoporous polydopamine(Mn-MPDA)nanodrug incorporating the nitric oxide(NO)prodrug BNN6 and immune agonist R848 was developed.The nanodrug responded to the H^(+)and glutathione being enriched in tumor microenvironment to release R848 and Mn^(2+).The abundant Mn^(2+)produced through a Fenton-like reaction enabled a highly sensitive T1-T2 dual-mode MRI for monitoring the tumor accumulation process of the nanodrug,based on which an MRI-guided laser irradiation was achieved to trigger the NO gas therapy.Meanwhile,R848 induced the re-polarization of tumor-promoting M2-like macrophage to a tumoricidal M1 phenotype.Consequently,a potent synergistic antitumor effect was realized in mice bearing subcutaneous 4T1 breast cancer,which manifested the great promise of this multifunctional nanoplatform in cancer treatment.

pH/GSH dual responsive nanosystem for nitric oxide generation enhanced type I photodynamic therapy

Tumor hypoxia diminishes the effectiveness of traditional type II photodynamic therapy(PDT)due to oxygen consumption.Type I PDT,which can operate independently of oxygen,is a viable option for treating hypoxic tumors.In this study,we have designed and synthesized JSK@PEG-IR820 NPs that are responsive to the tumor microenvironment(TME)to enhance type I PDT through glutathione(GSH)depletion.Our approach aims to expand the sources of therapeutic benefits by promoting the generation of superoxide radicals(O_(2)^(-).)while minimizing their consumption.The diisopropyl group within PEG-IR820 serves a dual purpose:it functions as a pH sensor for the disassembly of the NPs to release JSK and enhances intermolecular electron transfer to IR820,facilitating efficient O_(2)^(-).generation.Simultaneously,the release of JSK leads to GSH depletion,resulting in the generation of nitric oxide(NO).This,in turn,contributes to the formation of highly cytotoxic peroxynitrite(ONOO^(-).),thereby enhancing the therapeutic efficacy of these NPs.NIR-II fluorescence imaging guided therapy has achieved successful tumor eradication with the assistance of laser therapy.