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Updated: Feb 23, 2026
Photodynamic Therapy with Blended Conducting Polymer/Fullerene Nanoparticle Photosensitizers
Published on: October 28, 2015
H2 S-Activable MOF Nanoparticle Photosensitizer for Effective Photodynamic Therapy against Cancer with Controllable
Yu Ma1, Xiangyuan Li1, Aijie Li1
1College of Chemistry, Chemical Engineering and Materials Science, Collaborative Innovation Center of Functionalized Probes for Chemical Imaging in Universities of Shandong, Key Laboratory of Molecular and Nano Probes, Ministry of Education, Institute of Molecular and Nano Science, Shandong Normal University, Jinan, 250014, P. R. China.
Abstract:
Photodynamic therapy (PDT) has emerged as an important minimally invasive tumor treatment technology. The search for an effective photosensitizer to realize selective cancer treatment has become one of the major foci in recent developments of PDT technology. Controllable singlet-oxygen release based on specific cancer-associated events, as another major layer of selectivity mode, has attracted great attention in recent years. Here, for the first time, we demonstrated that a novel mixed-metal metal-organic framework nanoparticle (MOF NP) photosensitizer can be activated by a hydrogen sulfide (H2 S) signaling molecule in a specific tumor microenvironment for PDT against cancer with controllable singlet-oxygen release in living cells. The effective removal of tumors in vivo further confirmed the satisfactory treatment effect of the MOF NP photosensitizer.
Insights
This study introduces a novel metal-organic framework nanoparticle (MOF NP) photosensitizer for photodynamic therapy (PDT). Activated by tumor-specific hydrogen sulfide (H2S), it enables controllable singlet-oxygen release for effective cancer treatment.
Area of Science:
- Biomedical Engineering
- Materials Science
- Oncology
Background:
- Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is a minimally invasive cancer treatment.
- Developing selective photosensitizers is crucial for effective PDT.
- Targeting tumor-specific molecules enhances treatment selectivity.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop a novel mixed-metal metal-organic framework nanoparticle (MOF NP) photosensitizer.
- To achieve controllable singlet-oxygen release activated by tumor microenvironment.
- To evaluate the efficacy of the MOF NP for cancer PDT in vitro and in vivo.
Main Methods:
- Synthesis and characterization of mixed-metal MOF NPs.
- In vitro studies on singlet-oxygen generation triggered by hydrogen sulfide (H2S).
- In vivo tumor treatment studies using the developed MOF NP photosensitizer.
Main Results:
- The novel MOF NP demonstrated efficient photosensitization.
- Singlet-oxygen release was controllably activated by H2S in living cells.
- Significant tumor removal was observed in vivo, confirming therapeutic efficacy.
Conclusions:
- The developed MOF NP is a promising photosensitizer for targeted cancer PDT.
- H2S-activated singlet-oxygen release offers a new selectivity strategy for PDT.
- This approach shows potential for effective and selective tumor treatment.
