"Dual-Hit" Photothermal and Immunogenicity Activation by Structurally Simple Carbon Dots-Doped Hydrogel

Effective tumor treatment can only be achieved by combining short-acting, localized therapy with long-acting, systemic anti-tumor immunogenicity. Herein, we report a "dual-hit" synergistic photothermal-immunotherapy based on a multifunctional carbon dot-doped polymeric hydrogel with loaded oxaliplatin. Under laser irradiation, the hydrogel generates an initial photothermal ablation ("first-hit") while triggering OXA release. The released OXA induces potent immunogenic cell death and thereby activates long-standing antitumor immune response ("second-ICD, Therapy, carbon dots, hydrogel, photothermalhit"). This "dual-hit" therapeutic strategy is successfully performed in tumor-bearing mice.