Metallic Copper-Based Dual-Enzyme Biomimetic Nanoplatform for Mild Photothermal Enhancement of Anticancer Catalytic Activity.

Background: Chemodynamic therapy (CDT) is recognized as a promising cancer treatment. Recently, copper sulfide nanostructures have been extensively employed as Fenton-like reagents that catalyze the formation of acutely toxic hydroxyl radicals (·OH) from hydrogen peroxide (H2O2). However, CDT therapeutic potency is restricted by the tumor microenvironment (TME), such as insufficient amounts of hydrogen peroxide, excessive glutathione levels, etc. To address these disadvantages, glucose oxidase (GOx) or catalase (CAT) can be utilized to enhance CDT, while low therapeutic efficacy still inhibits their future applications. Our previous study revealed that mild photothermal effect could boost the CDT catalytic effectiveness as well as GOx enzyme activity over a range. Results: We engineered and constructed a hollow CuS nanoplatform loaded with GOx and CAT, coating with macrophage membranes (M@GOx-CAT@CuS NPs). The nanoplatforms allowed enhancement of the reactive oxygen species creation rate and GOx catalytic activeness of CDT through mild phototherapy directed by photoacoustic imaging. After actively targeting vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1) in cancer cells mediated by macrophage membrane coating, M@GOx-CAT@CuS NPs released GOx and CAT under near-infrared irradiation. GOx catalyzed the formation of H2O2 and gluconic acid with glucose, creating a better catalytic environment for CDT. Meanwhile, CAT-catalyzed H2O2 decomposition to generate sufficient oxygen, appropriately alleviating the oxygen shortage in the TME. In addition, starvation effects decreased adenosine triphosphate levels and further underregulated heat shock protein expression to reduce the heat resistance of tumor cells, resulting in a better mild phototherapy outcome. Both in vitro and in vivo experiments demonstrated that the newly developed M@GOx-CAT@CuS nanoplatform has remarkable synergistic anticancer therapeutic effects. Conclusion: The cascade reaction-enhanced biomimetic nanoplatform opens up a new avenue for precision tumor diagnostic and therapeutic research.

Facile Synthesis of Basic Copper Carbonate Nanosheets for Photoacoustic Imaging-Guided Tumor Apoptosis and Ferroptosis and the Extension Exploration of the Synthesis Method.

Elimination of tumor cells using carbonate nanomaterials with tumor microenvironment-responsive capacity has been explored as an effective strategy. However, their therapeutic outcomes are always compromised by the relatively low intratumoral accumulation and limited synthesis method. Herein, a novel kind of basic copper carbonate nanosheets was designed and prepared using a green synthesis method for photoacoustic imaging-guided tumor apoptosis and ferroptosis therapy. These nanosheets were synthesized with the assistance of dopamine and ammonium bicarbonate (NH4HCO3) and the loading of glucose oxidase (GOx). NH4HCO3 could not only provide an alkaline environment for the polymerization of dopamine but also supply carbonates for the growth of nanosheets. The formed nanosheets displayed good acid and near-infrared light responsiveness. After intercellular uptake, they could be degraded to release Cu2+ and GOx, generating hydroxyl radicals through a Cu+-mediated Fenton-like reaction, consuming glucose, up-regulating H2O2 levels, and down-regulating GSH levels. Tumor elimination could be achieved by hydroxyl radical-induced apoptosis and ferroptosis. More amusingly, this synthesis method can be extended to several kinds of mono-element and multi-element carbonate nanomaterials (e.g., Fe, Mn, and Co), showing great potential for further tumor theranostics.

Sonosensitive Phase-Changeable Nanoparticle Mediated Enhanced Chemotherapy in Prostate Cancer by Low-Intensity Focused Ultrasound.

Prostate cancer (PCa) is one of the most common cancer types. Early detection of PC offers the best chance of successful treatment. A noninvasive, image-guided therapy mediated by targeted nanoparticles (NPs) has the potential to improve the efficacy and safety of cancer therapies. Herein, we report a sonosensitive nanoparticle modified with anti-PSMA (prostate-specific membrane antigen) antibodies to activate target prostate tumors. These nanoparticles (PFP@IR780@PTX@liposome NPs) were co-loaded with the chemotherapeutic agent docetaxel and the sonosensitizer IR780, as well as phase-changeable perfluorocarbon (PFC) liquids. The liquid-gas phase change could be induced by low-intensity focused ultrasound (LIFU) in vitro. We found that the PFP@IR780@PTX@liposome NPs can specifically accumulate in prostate tumors after LIFU irradiation, as monitored by ultrasound and photoacoustic imaging. Meanwhile, docetaxel was controllably released from the nanoparticles to achieve enhanced chemotherapeutic therapy in vivo. These sonosensitive phase-changeable NPs can visually treat prostate cancers effectively and have a clinical potential.

Correction: In vivo photoacoustic image-guided tumor photothermal therapy and real-time temperature monitoring using a core-shell polypyrrole@CuS nanohybrid.

Correction for 'In vivo photoacoustic image-guided tumor photothermal therapy and real-time temperature monitoring using a core-shell polypyrrole@CuS nanohybrid' by Yang Cao et al., Nanoscale, 2022, 14, 12069-12076, https://doi.org/10.1039/D2NR02848D.

In vivo photoacoustic image-guided tumor photothermal therapy and real-time temperature monitoring using a core-shell polypyrrole@CuS nanohybrid.

Near-infrared (NIR) laser triggered theranostic platforms are increasingly used in clinical nanomedicine applications. In this work, a core-shell composite consisting of polypyrrole (PPy) coated copper sulfide (CuS) nanospheres with high photothermal efficiency and good photostability has been fabricated via a facile interfacial polymerization. The PPy@CuS nanohybrid had a hydrodynamic diameter of 58.5 nm with a CuS core and PPy shell and exhibited strong optical absorption and photon-to-heat conversion in the NIR region, leading to a sufficient photohyperthermic effect under irradiation with a 808 nm continuous wave laser. In vivo studies showed that the Ppy@CuS nanohybrids produced significant photoacoustic signals and exhibited remarkable photothermal therapeutic efficacy. Furthermore, the core-shell composites exhibited improved temperature elevation and photostability. The temperature-induced changes can be detected and monitored using photoacoustic imaging, thus allowing the control of the thermal dose while minimizing photothermal damage to surrounding healthy tissues. In summary, this study demonstrates that this novel platform could potentially be used for photoacoustic image-guided photothermal therapy and real-time temperature monitoring in cancer theranostics.