NIR-II Light Powered Asymmetric Hydrogel Nanomotors for Enhanced Immunochemotherapy

Nanomotors are appealing drug carriers, and the strength of the propelling force is important for their motion capability. Though high motion efficiency has been achieved with 808 nm light driven Janus-structured noble metal nanomotors, the NIR-I light penetration depth and material biocompatibility limit their broad application. Herein, we develop a 1064 nm NIR-II light driven asymmetric hydrogel nanomotor (AHNM) with high motion capability and load it with doxorubicin for enhanced immunochemotherapy. Magnetic field assisted photopolymerization generates an asymmetric distribution of Fe₃ O₄ @Cu₉ S₈ nanoparticles in the AHNM, producing self-thermophoresis as driving force under NIR-II irradiation. The AHNM is also functionalized with dopamine for the capture and retention of tumor-associated antigens to boost immune activation. The as-obtained NIR-II light driven AHNM has a high tumor tissue penetration capability and enhances immunochemotherapy, providing a promising strategy for cancer therapy.