SEU advanced in mild-temperature photothermal therapy of tumors

The conventional photothermal therapy for tumors is usually implemented at a temperature above 50℃, which may cause the damage to healthy tissues, the metastasis and recurrence of tumors, and other side effects. However, the mild-temperature photothermal therapy for tumors (at a temperature lower than 45℃) can effectively avoid the side effects mentioned above. The enzyme-induced self-assembly can concentrate on the location of lesions to release the drug, thus showing a unique advantage in cancer diagnosis and treatment. Nevertheless, there has been no report on the strategy based on the enzyme-induced in-situ self-assembly to enhance the efficacy of the mild-temperature photothermal therapy for tumors. Prof. Liang Gaolin’s research team has designed a rational molecular prodrug that responds to both alkaline phosphatase and esterase. Induced by enzymes in cancer cells, this prodrug can self-assemble into the photothermal nanoparticle and release hydroxychloroquine simultaneously. When the cancer cells receive the mild-temperature photothermal therapy, their autophagy is also inhibited so as to significantly improve the efficacy of photothermal therapy for malignant tumors (see figure below). 

In addition, the animal tests in cooperation with Prof. Wu Fugen’s research team showed that the strategy of enzyme-triggered intracellular photothermal nanoparticle formation and autophagy inhibition has significantly improved the efficacy of mild photothermal therapy for tumors in the nude mice model. Thus, this “smart” strategy can not only inspire people to design new prodrug molecules for the collaborative treatment of cancers, but also improve both the safety and efficacy of the therapy.

Submitted by: School of Biological Science and Medical Engineering

Translated by Melody Zhang

Revised by Yang Ying

Proofread by Melody Zhang

Edited by Qi Yuchen

For reprint or any commercial/public use, please contact us.