Transferrin Protein Corona-Targeted Codelivery of Tirapazamine and IR820 Facilitates Efficient PDT-Induced Hypoxic Chemotherapy on 4T1 Breast Cancer

Protein corona (PC) formation confers novel biological properties to the original nanomaterial, impeding its uptake and targeting efficacy in cells and tissues. Although many studies discussing PC formation have focused on inert proteins that may inhibit the function of nanomaterials, some functional plasma proteins with intrinsic targeting capabilities can also be adsorbed to the surface of nanomaterials, with active ligand properties to improve the targeting ability. In this approach, nanomaterials are surface-engineered to promote the adsorption of specific functional plasma proteins that are directly targeted to transport nanomaterials to the target site. In this study, T₁₀ peptide-modified liposomes were employed to construct an in situ transferrin (Tf) PC-mediated liposome carrying a hypoxia-sensitive chemotherapy drug (tirapazamine, TPZ) and a photosensitizer (indocyanine green, IR820). The water-soluble drug TPZ was encapsulated in mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MSNs) and coated with IR820 (IR)-loaded liposome. Lipid-coated MSNs can inhibit aggregation in the body and significantly reduce the rapid release of water-soluble drugs, resulting in improved system stability and sustained release. Upon entering the in vivo circulation, T₁₀ bound specifically to Tf in plasma to form an in situ Tf liposome–PC complex with enhanced targeting efficacy compared to traditional ligand-modified active-targeting strategies. However, large-sized PC particles faced challenges in penetrating deep into tumor tissues. IR could kill tumors through photodynamic therapy (PDT) and elicit complementary antitumor effects with the hypoxia-sensitive drug TPZ. This study demonstrates the novel design of in situ PC-mediated multifunctional liposomes for hypoxia-activated chemotherapy combined with PDT, a promising approach to cancer therapy.