Plasmonic MoO3-x nanoparticles incorporated in Prussian blue frameworks exhibit highly efficient dual photothermal/photodynamic therapy

J Mater Chem B. 2019 Mar 28;7(12):2032-2042. doi: 10.1039/c8tb03148g. Epub 2019 Feb 21.

Abstract

Development of near infrared (NIR) light-responsive nanomaterials for high performance multimodal phototherapy within a single nanoplatform is still challenging in technology and biomedicine. Herein, a new phototherapeutic nanoagent based on FDA-approved Prussian blue (PB) functionalized oxygen-deficient molybdenum oxide nanoparticles (MoO3-x NPs) is strategically designed and synthesized by a facile one-pot size/morphology-controlled process. The as-prepared PB-MoO3-x nanocomposites (NCs) with a uniform particle size of ∼90 nm and high water dispersibility exhibited strong optical absorption in the first biological window, which is induced by plasmon resonance in an oxygen-deficient MoO3-x semiconductor. More importantly, PB-MoO3-x NCs not only exhibited a high photothermal conversion efficiency of ∼63.7% and photostability but also offered a further approach for the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) upon singular NIR light irradiation which significantly improved the therapeutic efficiency of the PB agent. Furthermore, PB-MoO3-x NCs showed a negligible cytotoxic effect in the dark, but an excellent therapeutic effect toward two triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) cell lines at a low concentration (20 μg mL-1) of NCs and a moderate NIR laser power density. Additionally, efficient tumor ablation and metastasis inhibition in a 4T1 TNBC mouse tumor model can also be realized by synergistic photothermal/photodynamic therapy (PTT/PDT) under a single continuous NIR wave laser. Taken together, this study paved the way for the use of a single nanosystem for multifunctional therapy.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Coloring Agents / chemistry
  • Coloring Agents / therapeutic use*
  • Female
  • Ferrocyanides / chemistry
  • Ferrocyanides / therapeutic use*
  • Humans
  • Lasers
  • Mice, Inbred BALB C
  • Molybdenum / chemistry
  • Molybdenum / therapeutic use*
  • Nanocomposites / chemistry
  • Nanocomposites / therapeutic use*
  • Nanoparticles / chemistry
  • Nanoparticles / therapeutic use*
  • Oxides / chemistry
  • Oxides / therapeutic use*
  • Phototherapy*
  • Reactive Oxygen Species / chemistry
  • Triple Negative Breast Neoplasms / pathology
  • Triple Negative Breast Neoplasms / therapy*

Substances

  • Coloring Agents
  • Ferrocyanides
  • Oxides
  • Reactive Oxygen Species
  • molybdenum trioxide
  • Molybdenum
  • ferric ferrocyanide