Enhanced photodynamic therapy/photothermo therapy for nasopharyngeal carcinoma via a tumour microenvironment-responsive self-oxygenated drug delivery system.

ABSTRACT: The hypoxic nature of tumours limits the efficiency of oxygen-dependent photodynamic therapy (PDT). Hence, in this study, indocyanine green (ICG)-loaded lipid-coated zinc peroxide (ZnO₂) nanoparticles (ZnO₂@Lip-ICG) was constructed to realize tumour microenvironment (TME)-responsive self-oxygen supply. Near infrared light irradiation (808 nm), the lipid outer layer of ICG acquires sufficient energy to produce heat, thereby elevating the localised temperature, which results in accelerated ZnO₂ release and apoptosis of tumour cells. The ZnO₂ rapidly generates O₂ in the TME (pH 6.5), which alleviates tumour hypoxia and then enhances the PDT effect of ICG. These results demonstrate that ZnO₂@Lip-ICG NPs display good oxygen self-supported properties and outstanding PDT/PTT characteristics, and thus, achieve good tumour proliferation suppression.

SUBMITTER: Wu N 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9091608 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature