Co-delivery of enzymes and photosensitizers via metal-phenolic network capsules for enhanced photodynamic therapy

Abstract The intrinsic hypoxic tumor microenvironment and limited accumulation of photosensitizers (PSs) result in unsatisfied efficiency of photodynamic therapy (PDT). To enhance the PDT efficiency against solid tumors, a functional oxygen self-supplying and PS-delivering nanosystem is fabricated via the combination of catalase (CAT), chlorin e6 (Ce6) and metal-phenolic network (MPN) capsule. It is demonstrated that the CAT encapsulated in the capsules (named CCM capsules) could catalyze the degradation of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) to produce molecular oxygen (O2), which could be converted into cytotoxicity reactive oxygen species (ROS) by surface-loaded Ce6 under 660 nm laser irradiation, leading to synergistic anticancer effects in vitro and in vivo. Therefore, the application of CCM capsule could be a promising strategy to improve PDT effectiveness.