A tumor Microenvironment-triggered protein-binding Near-infrared-II Theranostic nanoplatform for Mild-Temperature photothermal therapy

Abstract

Photothermal therapy (PTT) has gained significant attention as a non-invasive treatment in clinical oncology. However, the translation of PTT into clinical practice remains constrained by three fundamental limitations: acquired thermal tolerance in tumor cells, restricted light penetration depth in biological matrices, and insufficient therapeutic outcomes from single-modality treatment. To address these issues, a strategy for forming in situ complexes between near-infrared-II (NIR-II) photothermal agents and proteins is developed, aimed at damaging protein conformation and enhancing PTT effectiveness. We developed a nanoplatform called PCy-SF, consisting of the NIR-II photothermal polymer (PCy) and sorafenib (SF). PCy-SF responds to the tumor microenvironment (TME), specifically releasing Cy-CHO and sorafenib from the assemblies. The released Cy-CHO covalently binds to proteins, forming Cy-Protein complexes that activate NIR-II fluorescence, facilitating NIR-II imaging-guided photothermal therapy. Concurrently, the released SF intensifies microvascular damage, synergizing with PTT for enhanced therapeutic efficacy. Notably, PCy-SF induces a strong anticancer immune response, effectively suppressing tumor recurrence and metastasis. This study introduces a promising protein deactivation strategy for achieving mild-temperature PTT, offering broader applicability of PTT and insights for sensitizing tumors to photothermal therapy. Together, this innovative approach combining NIR-II photothermal agents with protein complexation and a responsive nanoplatform enhances PTT precision and efficacy, demonstrating significant potential in the field of cancer nanomedicine.

Keywords: NIR-II fluorescence; Photothermal therapy; Protein-binding; Tumor microenvironment.