Antitumor Therapy through Photothermal Performance Synergized with Catalytic Activity Based on the Boron Cluster...

Chemodynamic therapy (CDT) has received widespread attention as a tumor optical treatment strategy in the field of malignant tumor therapy. Nonmetallic multifunctional nanomaterials as CDT agents, due to their low toxicity, long-lasting effects, and safety characteristics, have promising applications in the integrated diagnosis and treatment of cancer. Here, we modified the supramolecular framework of boron clusters, coupled with a variety of dyes to develop a series of metal-free agent compounds, and demonstrated that these nonmetallic compounds have excellent CDT activities through experiments. Subsequently, the best performing Methylene Blue/[closo-B₁₂H₁₂]^2- (MB@B₁₂H₁₂) was used as an example. Through theoretical calculations, electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy, and 808 nm light irradiation, we confirmed that MB@B₁₂H₁₂ exhibited photothermal performance and CDT activity further. More importantly, we applied MB@B₁₂H₁₂ to melanoma cells and subcutaneous tumor, demonstrating its effective suppression of melanoma growth in vitro and in vivo through the synergistic effects of photothermal performance and CDT activity. This study emphasizes the generalizability of the coupling of dyes to [closo-B₁₂H₁₂]^2- with important clinical translational potential for CDT reagents. Among them, MB@B₁₂H₁₂ may have a brighter future, paving the way for the rapid development of metal-free CDT reagents.