Bonsai-inspired AIE nanohybrid photosensitizer based on vermiculite nanosheets for ferroptosis-assisted oxygen self-sufficient photodynamic cancer therapy. (June 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Yu, Xinghua; Zhang, Ying-Chuan; Yang, Xing; Huang, Ziyang; Zhang, Tianfu; Yang, Liusi; Meng, Wenjing; Liu, Xiaotong; Gong, Ping; Forni, Alessandra; Zheng, Zheng; Liu, Bilu; Zhang, Pengfei; Cai, Lintao; Tang, Ben Zhong
• Is Part Of: Nano today. Volume 44(2022)
• Publication Date: 2022-06
• Subjects: Aggregation-induced emission -- Vermiculite -- Photodynamic therapy -- Oxygen self-sufficient -- Ferroptosis -- Tumor microenvironment; Nanotechnology -- Periodicals; Nanosciences -- Périodiques; 620.505
• DOI: 10.1016/j.nantod.2022.101477
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1748-0132

Abstract

Abstract: Oxygen-dependent photodynamic therapy (PDT) for cancer treatment based on aggregation-induced emission luminogen (AIEgen) photosensitizer shows limited efficiency in the hypoxic tumor microenvironment (TME). To overcome tumor hypoxia-induced PDT resistance, a bonsai-inspired oxygen self-sufficient photodynamic cancer therapeutic system was developed based on AIEgen/vermiculite nanohybrid. Ultrathin nanosheets (NSs) were synthesized by lithium-ion intercalation from potting soil vermiculite for AIEgen photosensitizer (DCPy) loading through electrostatic attraction to produce NSs@DCPy (nano bonsai). When NSs@DCPy was absorbed by hypoxic the tumor and exposed to white light radiation, the NSs@DCPy could not only produce 1 O2 and·OH but also catalyze the H2 O2 to generate O2 for alleviating hypoxia significantly improving PDT efficacy. Surprisingly, NSs@DCPy could induce ferroptosis of the tumor by iron overload and depleting glutathione (GSH). Therefore, we provide a bonsai-inspired AIEgen-vermiculite nanohybrid platform for ferroptosis-assisted oxygen self-sufficient photodynamic cancer therapy. Graphical Abstract: Inspired by bonsai, ultrathin vermiculite nanosheets (NSs) were synthesized by lithium-ion intercalation for AIE photosensitizer (DCPy) loading to produce nano-bonsai (NSs@DCPy). The nano-bonsai could catalyze H2 O2 to generate O2 for alleviating hypoxia and improving photodynamic therapy efficacy, and induced the ferroptosis of the tumor by iron overload and depleting glutathione (GSH). ga1 Highlights: A bonsai-inspired AIEgen/vermiculite 2D nanosheet hybrid system. Vermiculite 2D nanosheet should nanoenzyme activity. The nanohybrid system could induce the tumor ferroptosis process.