A near-infrared triggered upconversion/MoS₂ nanoplatform for tumour-targeted chemo-photodynamic combination therapy

The combination of photodynamic therapy and chemotherapy has shown a great potential in cancer treatment. As a promising photosensitizer, MoS₂ quantum dots (QDs) have limited application due to the low tissue penetration of its light absorbing wavelength in the ultraviolet and visible regions. For the purpose of utilizing MoS₂QDs in higher NIR absorption region, herein, we constructed a core/shell nano-photosensitizer upconversion@MoS₂ with doxorubicin loading. This nanoplatform can convert 980 nm NIR into visible light, activating MoS₂QDs to produce reactive oxygen species through fluorescence resonance energy transfer. In addition, this nanoplatform presented good biocompatibility and tumor targeting after polyethylene glycol and folic acid modification. Interestingly, with pH-responsive drug release performance, this nanoplatform presented efficient chemotherapy effects. Thus, the tumour-targeted nanoplatform can achieve up-converted luminescence imaging guided chemo-photodynamic synergistic therapy effectively.