NIR-II-responsive CuMo2S3 superstructures for phototherapy and chemodynamic therapy of cancer

Second near-infrared (NIR-II; 1000-1400 nm) induced photothermal therapy (PTT) has recently become a research focus as an emerging candidate for cancer therapeutic modality, owing to the advantages of minimal invasiveness, less energy dissipation, and deeper tissue penetration depth in comparison to traditional PTT with first near-infrared (NIR-I; 700-1000 nm) irradiation. Herein, an efficient nanoagent was firstly fabricated based on CuMo2S3 materials, which is capable to generate hyperthermia and reactive oxygen species (ROS) under NIR-II light stimulation. The harboring multivalent elements (Cu1+/2+, Mo4+/6+) can also perform chemodynamic therapy (CDT) due to the Fenton-like reaction and subsequently enhance therapeutic efficiency. The PEGylated CuMo2S3 nanoparticles (CMS NPs) react with the excess H2O2 of tumor microenvironment (TME) with a catalase-like reaction, which can generate hydroxyl radicals (center dot OH) for CDT and release O-2 to relieve hypoxia level. The dandelion-like nanostructure exhibited excellent photothermal conversion efficiency (38.2%) as well as outstanding particle morphology stability after the in vitro test. Besides, the CMS NPs demonstrated great enhancement in anticancer efficiency, as well as good biocompatibility, hyperthermal effect, and excellent photodynamic therapy (PDT) performance, upon the 1064-nm NIR-II laser irradiation. These outcomes suggest the promising potential of the CMS NPs against cancer therapeutic with excellent clinical translation promises.