A Magnetocatalytic Propelled Cobalt–Platinum@Graphene Navigator for Enhanced Tumor Penetration and Theranostics

Abstract

The complex biological environments and multiple physiological barriers significantly impede efficient accumulation and penetration of nanomaterials within tumor tissue for therapy. In situ energy conversion of nanomotors features autonomous movements and improves cancer treatment. However, one of the key challenges is to prepare nanomotors with an adequately small size, good biocompatibility and precise positioning.Here, we demonstrate a simple, ultra-small, versatile, and real-time motion guidance strategy for magnetocatalytic CoPt@graphene navigators (MCGNs) that can enable highly efficient propulsion in the presence of H 2 O 2 or magnetic actuation. MCGNs act as highly diffusive delivery vehicles to promote tumor tissue targeting, and the amount of drug in the tumor was 3 times than without navigation. By engaging movements powered through in situ energy conversion, MCGNs gain considerable propulsion to penetrate a cell's membrane and enhance intracellular delivery.

A Practical Guide to Analyzing and Reporting the Movement of Nanoscale Swimmers

“…These concerns are not hypothetical but are already widespread in the nanoswimmer literature. By surveying 40+ recent literature reports of nanoswimmers, − we see reoccurring inconsistencies that include blurry, drifting trajectories captured by optical microscopes, ,,,,,,,, inappropriate speed calculations and fitting of mean squared displacement, ,,,− ,,,,, and lack of proper and complete control experiments. ,,, These inconsistencies are often accompanied by other issues, such as an incomplete reporting of experimental details, a casual discussion of the propulsion mechanism of a nanoswimmer, and sometimes even a lack of supporting videos to confirm self-propulsion. , Moreover, since many of these studies aspire to apply nanoswimmers in a biomedical or environmental setting, mistakes in fabricating, measuring, and analyzing the movement of nanoswimmers continue to propagate and to undermine their utility in these applications.…”

“…We therefore strongly recommend against calculating/reporting the instantaneous speeds of nanoswimmers (see refs , , , , , , − , , , , and for examples), unless a high-speed camera is used or the nanoswimmer (for good and known reasons) experiences very limited Brownian rotation.…”

Advances in metal graphitic nanocapsules for biomedicine

“…ELGNs mainly include Ru, CoRu, and CoPt alloys and their particle sizes are less than 5 nm. [9,16,25] Ultrasmall ELGNs have large surface-area-tovolume ratios and rich unsaturated sites for the adsorption of reactant species, showing superior multienzyme-like activity. Generally, ultrasmall nanoparticles (NPs) have low adsorption energy and poor stability, but ultrasmall ELGNs have superior stability and robust enzyme-like activities in harsh conditions, which is due to the fact that few-layer graphitic shell effectively protects the metal core from dissolution and agglomeration, and meanwhile, their catalytic activities are not greatly affected.…”

“…[15] The graphitic shell with large specific surface area and delocalized π electronic structure can be robust platform for chemotherapeutic drugs loading, PGNs have been used for synergistic thermo-chemotherapy of cancer cells. [7] In addition, the multifunctional ELGNs with multienzyme-like activity, magnetism, and NIR light absorption capacity have been used for ablation of solid tumors [16] and selective killing of H. pylori in vivo. [17] In this review, we first introduce the methods for metal graphitic nanocapsules preparation, the specific mechanism of CVD growth process is also discussed.…”

Nanozyme-Triggered Cascade Reactions from Cup-Shaped Nanomotors Promote Active Cellular Targeting

“…Active searching and efficient targeting toward lesion location remain a formidable challenge in diagnosis and treatment. Recently, self-propelled micro/nanomotors (MNMs), which convert local or external energies into mechanical motion, have emerged as a novel methodology to drive nanocargoes toward biological targets [16][17][18][19][20][21][22][23][24][25]. Particularly, the active cellular searching and internalization capabilities of MNMs can be modulated by regulating their speed and direction [26].…”