AUTHOR=Liang Zixing , Li Xiaofeng , Chen Xiaofang , Zhou Jiawei , Li Yanan , Peng Jianhui , Lin Zhousheng , Liu Gai , Zeng Xiancheng , Li Cheng , Hang Lifeng , Li Hailiang 

TITLE=Fe/MOF based platform for NIR laser induced efficient PDT/PTT of cancer

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Bioengineering and Biotechnology

VOLUME=11

YEAR=2023

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/bioengineering-and-biotechnology/articles/10.3389/fbioe.2023.1156079

DOI=10.3389/fbioe.2023.1156079

ISSN=2296-4185

ABSTRACT=<p><bold>Introduction:</bold> Photodynamic therapy (PDT) and photothermal therapy (PTT) are widely used in the treatment of tumors. However, their application in the treatment of clinical tumors is limited by the complexity and irreversible hypoxia environment generated by tumor tissues. To overcome this limitation, a nanoparticle composed of indocyanine green (ICG) and Fe-MOF-5 was developed.</p><p><bold>Methods:</bold> We prepared F-I@FM5 and measured its morphology, particle size, and stability. Its enzyme like ability and optical effect was verified. Then we used MTT, staining and flow cytometry to evaluated the anti-tumor effect on EMT-6 cells <italic>in vitro</italic>. Finally, the anti-tumor effect <italic>in vivo</italic> has been studied on EMT-6 tumor bearing mice.</p><p><bold>Results:</bold> For the composite nanoparticle, we confirmed that Fe-MOF-5 has the best nanozyme activity. In addition, it has excellent photothermal conversion efficiency and generates reactive oxygen species (ROS) under near-infrared light irradiation (808 nm). The composite nanoparticle showed good tumor inhibition effect <italic>in vitro</italic> and <italic>in vivo</italic>, which was superior to the free ICG or Fe-MOF-5 alone. Besides, there was no obvious cytotoxicity in major organs within the effective therapeutic concentration.</p><p><bold>Discussion:</bold> Fe-MOF-5 has the function of simulating catalase, which can promote the decomposition of excessive H<sub>2</sub>O<sub>2</sub> in the tumor microenvironment and produce oxygen to improve the hypoxic environment. The improvement of tumor hypoxia can enhance the efficacy of PDT and PTT. This research not only provides an efficient and stable anti-tumor nano platform, but also has broad application prospects in the field of tumor therapy, and provides a new idea for the application of MOF as an important carrier material in the field of photodynamic therapy.</p>