A Near‐Infrared Light‐Activated Photocage Based on a Ruthenium Complex for Cancer Phototherapy

Abstract

Conventional photocages only respond to short wavelength light, which is a significant obstacle to developing efficient phototherapy in vivo. The development of photocages activated by near-infrared (NIR) light at wavelengths from 700 to 950 nm is important for in vivo studies but remains challenging. Herein, we describe the synthesis of a photocage based on a ruthenium (Ru) complex with NIR light-triggered photocleavage reaction. The commercial anticancer drug, tetrahydrocurcumin (THC), was coordinated to the Ru II center to create the Ru-based photocage that is readily responsive to NIR light at 760 nm. The photocage inherited the anticancer properties of THC. As a proof-of-concept, we further engineered a self-assembled photocage-based nanoparticle system with amphiphilic block copolymers. Upon exposure to NIR light at 760 nm, the Ru complex-based photocages were released from the polymeric nanoparticles and efficiently inhibited tumor proliferation in vivo.

Bacterial outer membrane vesicle-modified metal–organic frameworks for sonodynamic therapy–immunotherapy of breast cancer

“…However, biological barriers of the tumor microenvironment hinder the accumulation of sonosensitizers in the tumor tissue. [10][11][12] Most kinds of sonosensitizers such as porphyrins (hematoporphyrin) and pyrroles (chlorin e6 (Ce6)) have a short in vivo half-life, making it difficult for delivery into the tumor tissue by passive transport. 13,14 Therefore, how to improve the non-specific distribution and tumor targeting ability of sonosensitizers remains a key problem to enhance the therapeutic efficiency of SDT.…”