Biocompatible Fe-Hematoporphyrin coordination nanoplatforms with efficient sonodynamic-chemo effects on deep-seated tumors

Sonodynamic therapy (SDT) utilizing semiconductors or organic sonosensitizers has attracted increasing attention as a noninvasive treatment for deep-seated tumors, but its practical applications are still limited due to unsatisfactory therapeutical effects. To address the issue, we reported a metal-organic nanosonosensitizer by assembling clinical drug hematoporphyrin monomethyl ether (HMME) with Fe(III) ions through covalently coordination. The Fe-HMME coordination particles (FeCPs) had the average size of ~70 nm, and they were surface-modified with phospholipids to confer high hydrophilicity and stability. Upon ultrasound irradiation, they efficiently produced 1O2 to destroy cancer cells coated without or with tissue-barriers (1–3 cm). Importantly, the porous structure of FeCPs facilitated high loading capacity (31.3%) of anticancer drug doxorubicin (DOX), and the [email protected] exhibited pH-sensitive and ultrasound-enhanced releasing behavior that was favorable to the acidic microenvironment of tumors. When the lipids-coated FeCPs were intravenously injected into tumor-bearing mouse, they could passively accumulate within tumors, leading to the magnetic resonance imaging of tumors. Importantly, as deep-seated tumor model, tumors covered with barrier were exposed to ultrasound and thereafter their growth was significantly inhibited by SDT of FeCPs. The inhibition effects could be further enhanced by [email protected] due to the SDT-chemo combined therapy. Therefore, the [email protected] have achieved good therapeutical performances on deep-seated tumor and would supply some insights on the design of other metal-organic nanoplatforms.