Nanoscale Porphyrin-Based Metal-Organic Frameworks for Enhanced Radiotherapy-Radiodynamic Therapy: A Comprehensive...

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Nanotechnology
• Biomedical Engineering

Background:

• Phototherapy faces limitations due to poor light penetration in biological tissues.
• Radiodynamic therapy (RDT) uses X-rays to excite photosensitizers, overcoming light penetration issues but suffering from low efficiency and potential normal tissue damage.
• Porphyrin-based nanoscale metal-organic frameworks (nMOFs) offer potential for combined cancer therapies.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review recent advancements in using high-Z metal-coordinated porphyrin-based nMOFs for combined radiotherapy (RT) and RDT.
• To analyze the therapeutic efficacy and advantages of different high-Z metals in these nMOFs.
• To explore strategies for enhancing MOF-based cancer therapy, including chemodynamic therapy (CDT) and oxygen delivery.

Main Methods:

• Synthesis of MOF materials by coordinating high-Z metal ions (Hf4+, Th4+, Ta5+, Bi3+) with carboxyl porphyrins.
• Evaluation of combined RT and RDT effects on various cancer cells.
• Investigation of the heavy atom effect and introduction of CDT via iron coordination.
• Assessment of optimization strategies like hemoglobin-based oxygen delivery.

Main Results:

• High-Z metal-based porphyrin nMOFs demonstrate effective antitumor effects under low-dose X-ray irradiation.
• These nMOFs overcome light penetration limitations and issues associated with direct X-ray excitation of photosensitizers.
• Combined RT and RDT show superior therapeutic outcomes compared to individual therapies.
• Integration of CDT and oxygen delivery further enhances radiosensitizing efficacy.

Conclusions:

• Porphyrin-based nMOFs incorporating high-Z metals represent a promising platform for combined RT and RDT cancer treatment.
• These materials offer a strategy to improve therapeutic efficiency while minimizing damage to normal tissues.
• Further preclinical research and development are warranted to translate these findings into clinical applications.