Iridium Oxide Nanoparticle-Decorated Metal-Organic Framework: A Synergistic Platform for Photodynamic and Photothermal Cancer Therapy.

Abstract

Phototherapy, including photodynamic therapy (PDT) and photothermal therapy (PTT), has demonstrated significant potential for cancer treatment. However, the therapeutic efficacy of PDT and PTT is often limited by several challenges, such as the hypoxic tumor microenvironment, lack of tumor-specific targeting, incomplete tumor ablation, and heat resistance of tumor cells. Herein, we report a novel theranostic nanoplatform (PCN-224-IrO₂-HA) by anchoring hyaluronic acid (HA)-modified IrO₂ nanoparticles onto a metal-organic framework PCN-224. PCN-224 converts O₂ to oxygen species (ROS) under laser irradiation. ROS are highly toxic within cells and can kill tumor cells. IrO₂ nanoparticle catalyzes the production of O₂ from the excess H₂O₂ at the tumor site, which relieves hypoxia in the tumor environment and enhances the efficiency of PDT. IrO₂ nanoparticle also rapidly converts the light energy into heat energy to ablate the tumor cells under laser irradiation. HA can specifically recognize CD44 protein, which is highly expressed on tumor cell membranes, prompting the effective enrichment of PCN-224-IrO₂-HA at the tumor site. The synergistic PDT and PTT achieved by this novel nanoplatform can significantly inhibit the growth of tumor, which provides new idea and tool for phototherapy.