AUTHOR=Zhang Lina , Zhu Pengfeng , Wan Ting , Wang Huaiyan , Mao Zhilei 

TITLE=Glutamine coated titanium for synergistic sonodynamic and photothermal on tumor therapy upon targeted delivery

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Bioengineering and Biotechnology

VOLUME=11

YEAR=2023

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/bioengineering-and-biotechnology/articles/10.3389/fbioe.2023.1139426

DOI=10.3389/fbioe.2023.1139426

ISSN=2296-4185

ABSTRACT=<p><bold>Introduction:</bold> The application of titanium dioxide nanoparticles (TiO<sub>2</sub> NPs) for cancer therapy has been studied for decades; however, the targeted delivery of TiO<sub>2</sub> NPs to tumor tissues is challenging, and its efficiency needs to be improved.</p><p><bold>Method:</bold> In this study, we designed an oxygen-deficient TiO<sub>2-x</sub> coated with glutamine layer for targeted delivery, as well as the enhanced separation of electrons (e-) and holes (h+) following the joint application of sonodynamic therapy (SDT) and photothermal therapy (PTT).</p><p><bold>Results:</bold> This oxygen-deficient TiO<sub>2-x</sub> possesses relatively high photothermal and sonodynamic efficiency at the 1064 nm NIR-II bio-window. The GL-dependent design eased the penetration of the TiO<sub>2-x</sub> into the tumor tissues (approximately three-fold). The <italic>in vitro</italic> and <italic>in vivo</italic> tests showed that the SDT/PTT-based synergistic treatment achieved more optimized therapeutic effects than the sole use of either SDT or PTT.</p><p><bold>Conclusion:</bold> Our study provided a safety targeted delivery strategy, and enhanced the therapeutic efficiency of SDT/PTT synergistic treatment.</p>