A versatile nanoplatform for synergistic chemo-photothermal therapy and multimodal imaging against breast cancer

Objectives: Mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MSNs) with unique advantages can combine multiple functionalities including imaging and therapeutic into one single platform that can provide personalized diagnosis and treatment. In this study, we fabricated a multifunctional nanocomplex for the delivery of a classic chemotherapy drug (Doxorubicin, DOX) and a near-infrared (NIR) dye (indocyanine green, ICG) based on mesoporous silica-coated Fe₃O₄ nanoparticles. Hyaluronic acid (HA) was conjugated onto the surface of the nanocomplex to respond to hyaluronidase (HAase). the final complex is short for M-MSN/HA/DI.Methods: The successful synthesis of M-MSN-HA/DI nanocomplex was confirmed by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and UV-vis spectrometer. The photothermal conversion efficiency and antitumor efficiency in breast cancer bearing mice were further evaluated.Results: M-MSN/HA/DI showed preeminent T₂ MR and fluorescence (FL) imaging ability, and the release of DOX was accelerated in the presence of HAase. The nanocomplex generated high heat upon 808 nm NIR irradiation and efficiently induced apoptosis in breast cancer cells. The in vivo studies demonstrated that the final nanocomplex can inhibit tumor growth with minimal systemic toxicity upon 808 nm NIR irradiation.Conclusion: Collectively, our work offers a preclinical proof of concept for a multifunctional drug delivery system for cancer therapy and imaging,which could achieve efficient application for cancer.