Controlled synthesis of a core-shell nanohybrid for effective multimodal image-guided combined photothermal/photodynamic therapy of tumors

In this paper, a simple strategy is proposed to prepare a core-shell nanohybrid (PB@PCN) by the controllable coating of zirconium-porphyrin (PCN) shells on Prussian blue (PB) nanoparticles. By adjusting the thickness of the PCN shell, the PB@PCN nanohybrid with the best comprehensive performance was obtained for tumor treatment and imaging. The integrated nanosystem as a tandem catalyst is able to convert H2O2 to O2 through the PB core, and then the O2 is directly injected into the PCN framework, leading to a high quantum yield of singlet oxygen to kill tumor cells and attack heat shock proteins (HSPs). The nanohybrid was further camouflaged by a tumor cell membrane (PB@PCN@MEM) with good immune evasion and active targeting ability. Upon accumulation at the tumor site, PN@PCN@MEM showed an enhanced photodynamic therapeutic effect against hypoxic tumor cells. Furthermore, coupled with the photothermal therapy of PB, photothermal/photodynamic synergistic therapy of tumors can be realized. In addition, due to its excellent imaging performance, this core-shell nanohybrid can be employed for the multimodal image-guided therapy of tumors. Nanoparticles with a photothermal core surrounded by a porous photodynamic shell were optimized for imaging and treating tumors by researchers in China. Engineered nanoparticles, once injected into the body, can attach themselves to cancerous cells. Then, nanoparticles can produce cancer-destroying reactive oxygen species (ROS) for photodynamic therapy, and generate heat to kill the cancer with photothermal therapy. Nanoparticles can also help doctors to find and analyze the tumor. Xian-Zheng Zhang and colleagues from Wuhan University created core-shell nanoparticles of a core with catalase-like activity and photothermal conversion property encased in a shell capable of generating ROS. They then coated these in a tumor cell membrane to help the particles evade the body’s immune system and be recognized by cancerous cells. They could optimize the photodynamic therapeutic performance of these nanoparticles by adjusting the thickness of shell. By developing a controlled synthesis approach, the PB@PCN nanohybrid with optimal thickness is obtained for tumor treatment and imaging. The core and shell of this multifunctional nanohybrid cooperate to achieve combined photothermal/photodynamic therapy of tumor. The PB@PCN nanohybrid is further camouflaged by tumor cell membrane to endow good immune evasion and active targeting ability.