Iron–silver-modified quantum dots act as efficient catalysts in anti-cancer multitherapy through controlled, ultrasound-induced oxidation

Abstract

Chemodynamic therapy and sonodynamic therapy are two promising tumour therapeutic strategies. However, lack of highly effective sonosensitizers and control over chemodynamic therapy limit their application. Here we synthesize silver-doped zinc selenide quantum dots with atomically dispersed superficial Fe and show that they act as efficient sonosensitizers, catalysers and immunoreagents. Surface modification with an in situ self-assembly peptide drives accumulation in tumours. Superficial Fe^III remains stable and converts to Fe^II only under ultrasonic processing, reverting to Fe^III upon ultrasound cessation. Under ultrasound stimulation, superficial Fe undergoes valence change with concomitant amelioration of the hypoxic tumour microenvironment and production of sonodynamic therapy-beneficial hydroxyl radicals. Furthermore, silver doping suppressed nonradiative recombination of excitons, leading to improved production of singlet oxygen. Meanwhile, selenium promotes robust systemic immune responses for the inhibition of tumour metastases. This nano-platform allows control of valence switching of atomically dispersed catalysts, representing an effective tool for chemodynamic/sonodynamic/immunotherapy.