Light-Triggered Transformable Ferrous Ion Delivery System for Photothermal Primed Chemodynamic Therapy

Area of Science:

• Biomedical Engineering
• Nanotechnology
• Oncology

Background:

• Chemodynamic therapy (CDT) utilizes metal ions, like iron (Fe2+), to catalyze hydroxyl radical production from hydrogen peroxide for cancer treatment.
• Existing Fe2+ based CDT faces challenges due to rapid oxidation and systemic toxicity, necessitating controlled delivery systems.
• Developing stable and targeted Fe2+ delivery is crucial for enhancing CDT efficacy and reducing side effects.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a near-infrared (NIR) light-triggered Fe2+ delivery agent (LET-6) for dual-modality imaging-guided photothermal-primed CDT.
• To investigate the controlled release of Fe2+ and subsequent hydroxyl radical generation within the tumor microenvironment.
• To evaluate the in vitro and in vivo therapeutic efficacy of the LET-6 based CDT system.

Main Methods:

• Synthesis and characterization of the NIR light-triggered Fe2+ delivery agent, LET-6.
• Utilized 808 nm laser irradiation to induce thermal expansion and trigger Fe2+ release from LET-6.
• Assessed hydroxyl radical generation, dual-modality (fluorescence and photoacoustic) imaging, and tumor elimination efficacy in vitro and in vivo models.

Main Results:

• LET-6 successfully delivered Fe2+ upon NIR laser irradiation, triggering localized hydroxyl radical generation.
• The system demonstrated effective dual-modality imaging for tumor visualization and treatment guidance.
• LET-6 achieved complete tumor elimination (100%) in vivo after a single treatment session.

Conclusions:

• The developed NIR light-triggered Fe2+ delivery system (LET-6) offers a controllable and effective platform for photothermal-primed CDT.
• LET-6 enhances therapeutic outcomes by precisely delivering Fe2+ and minimizing systemic toxicity.
• This advanced Fe2+ delivery strategy shows significant promise for synergistic cancer therapy and warrants further investigation.