Nanoscale Metal-Organic Frameworks Stabilize Bacteriochlorins for Type I and Type II Photodynamic Therapy

Herein we report the design of a bacteriochlorin-based nanoscale metal-organic framework, Zr-TBB, for highly effective photodynamic therapy via both type I and type II mechanisms. The framework of Zr-TBB stabilizes 5,10,15,20-tetra(p-benzoato)bacteriochlorin (TBB) ligands toward oxygen and light via geometrical constraint. Upon 740 nm light irradiation, Zr-TBB efficiently generates various reactive oxygen species, including singlet oxygen, superoxide anion, hydrogen peroxide, and hydroxyl radicals, to afford superb antitumor efficacy on mouse models of breast and colon cancers, with cure rates of 40% and 60%, respectively.