Multifunctional metal-organic frameworks with photothermal-triggered nitric oxide release for gas/photothermal synergistic cancer therapy

Xingyu Luo; Tian Zhao; Shuheng Qin; Fei Wang; Jianchuan Ran; Yong Hu; Wei Han

doi:10.1016/j.jcis.2025.01.007

Multifunctional metal-organic frameworks with photothermal-triggered nitric oxide release for gas/photothermal synergistic cancer therapy

J Colloid Interface Sci. 2025 Jan 4;684(Pt 1):47-59. doi: 10.1016/j.jcis.2025.01.007. Online ahead of print.

Authors

Xingyu Luo¹, Tian Zhao², Shuheng Qin³, Fei Wang³, Jianchuan Ran⁴, Yong Hu⁵, Wei Han⁶

Affiliations

¹ Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Nanjing Stomatological Hospital, Affiliated Hospital of Medical School, Institute of Stomatology, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210008 China; MOE Key Laboratory of High Performance Polymer Materials and Technology, College of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210023 China. Electronic address: [email protected].
² Department of Periodontics, Nanjing Stomatological Hospital, Affiliated Hospital of Medical School, Institute of Stomatology, Nanjing University, Nanjing, China.
³ MOE Key Laboratory of High Performance Polymer Materials and Technology, College of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210023 China; Nanjing University (Suzhou) High-tech Institute, Renai Road 150, Suzhou Industrial Park, Suzhou 215123 China.
⁴ Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Nanjing Stomatological Hospital, Affiliated Hospital of Medical School, Institute of Stomatology, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210008 China. Electronic address: [email protected].
⁵ MOE Key Laboratory of High Performance Polymer Materials and Technology, College of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210023 China; Nanjing University (Suzhou) High-tech Institute, Renai Road 150, Suzhou Industrial Park, Suzhou 215123 China. Electronic address: [email protected].
⁶ Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Nanjing Stomatological Hospital, Affiliated Hospital of Medical School, Institute of Stomatology, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210008 China. Electronic address: [email protected].

PMID: 39787807
DOI: 10.1016/j.jcis.2025.01.007

Abstract

Photothermal therapy (PTT) utilizing cyanine dyes (Cy) and nitric oxide (NO) gas therapy via BNN6 have demonstrated significant potential in cancer treatment. However, the rapid clearance of these small molecules from the body limits their accumulation at tumor sites, thereby reducing therapeutic efficacy. To address this, we employed the acid-sensitive nanomaterial ZIF-8 as a carrier to encapsulate Cy and BNN6, creating functionalized BNN6-Cy@ZIF-8 Nanoparticles (B-C@Z NPs) for the targeted delivery and release of Cy and BNN6 at tumor sites. Within the acidic tumor microenvironment and lysosomes, ZIF-8 degrades, releasing Cy and BNN6. Under 808 nm laser irradiation, Cy exhibits excellent photothermal conversion efficiency, generating substantial heat to induce tumor cell apoptosis via PTT. Simultaneously, the elevated temperature triggers the decomposition of BNN6, releasing NO to further enhance tumor cell cytotoxicity. This synergistic approach, combining hyperthermia and NO-mediated cytotoxicity, has shown near-complete tumor eradication in vivo and in vitro, offering a promising novel strategy for cancer therapy.

Keywords: Cyanine dyes; Enhanced permeability and retention effect; Metal–organic frameworks; NO gas; Photothermal therapy.