NO-producing Arg-sCNDs for combined photothermal and gas effects in cancer cell ablation

Photothermal therapy (PTT) and gas therapy (GT) were used in combination to enhance the antitumor effect by leveraging the dual cytotoxic mechanisms of nitric oxide (NO) and peroxynitrite (ONOO^-), along with the localized heating capability of photothermal materials. Arginine-supra-carbon nanodots (Arg-sCNDs) were obtained through a one-pot hydrothermal method without subsequent modification, allowing them to produce endogenous NO and photothermal effects on a single platform. The photothermal conversion efficiency of Arg-sCNDs reaches 77.09% and 58.01% under 730 nm and 808 nm irradiation, respectively. Arg-sCNDs demonstrated good killing and ablation effects on cancer cells and had minimal side effects on normal cells. The photothermal and NO effects reinforce each other. The cell apoptosis mechanism was demonstrated through measurements of cell temperature, NO levels, ONOO^- levels, and mitochondrial membrane potential. Therefore, the in vitro study demonstrated that Arg-sCNDs with dual functions present broad application prospects in tumor cell ablation.