A near-infrared responsive germanium complex of Ge/GeO2 for targeted tumor phototherapy

J Mater Chem B. 2019 Aug 21;7(33):5056-5064. doi: 10.1039/c9tb00548j.

Abstract

The development of photoactive nanomaterials with high biocompatibility for targeted tumor phototherapy is of great significance for antitumor applications; this study presents a novel phototherapeutic agent, the Ge/GeO2 complex, which shows broad photoabsorption in the near infrared (NIR) region. As a result, it can synchronously produce reactive oxygen species (ROS) and heat under NIR irradiation. After being loaded onto macrophages, Ge/GeO2 could be delivered to tumors in a targeted fashion. Combining the abovementioned merits together, macrophage-loaded Ge/GeO2 realized in vivo synergetic photothermal and photodynamic outcomes to completely remove solid tumors in mice via intravenous administration. In this study, B-ultrasonography was also employed to monitor the tumor evolution after phototherapy, revealing a sequential process of tumor necrosis, liquefaction/softening, and finally disappearance. In addition, Ge/GeO2 proposed in this study shows negligible cytotoxicity and hematotoxicity, especially after being loaded onto macrophages.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Cell Survival / drug effects
  • Coordination Complexes / chemistry*
  • Coordination Complexes / pharmacology
  • Coordination Complexes / therapeutic use
  • Female
  • Germanium / chemistry*
  • Hep G2 Cells
  • Humans
  • Infrared Rays
  • Macrophages / cytology
  • Macrophages / drug effects
  • Macrophages / metabolism
  • Mice
  • Mice, Nude
  • Neoplasms / drug therapy
  • Neoplasms / pathology
  • Neoplasms / therapy*
  • Photochemotherapy
  • Phototherapy*
  • Reactive Oxygen Species / metabolism

Substances

  • Coordination Complexes
  • Reactive Oxygen Species
  • Germanium
  • germanium oxide