Rational construction of CQDs-based targeted multifunctional nanoplatform for synergistic chemo-photothermal tumor therapy

Photothermal therapy combined with chemotherapy has shown great promise in the treatment of cancer. In this synergistic system, a safe, stable, and efficient photothermal agent is desired. Herein, an effective photothermal agent, carbon quantum dots (CQDs), was initially synthesized and then rationally constructed a folic acid (FA)-targeted photothermal multifunctional nanoplatform by encapsulating CQDs and the anticancer drug doxorubicin (DOX) in the liposomes. Indocyanine green (ICG), a near infrared (NIR) photothermal agent, approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, was embedded in the bilayer membrane to further enhance the photothermal effects and facilitate the rapid cleavage of liposomes for drug release. Triggered by the NIR laser, this engineered photothermal multifunctional nanoplatform, not only exhibited an excellent performance with the photothermal conversion efficiency of up to 47.14%, but also achieved controlled release of the payloads. In vitro, and in vivo experiments demonstrated that the photothermal multifunctional nanoplatform had excellent biocompatibility, enhanced tumor-specific targeting, stimuli-responsive drug release, effective cancer cell killing and tumor suppression through multi-modal synergistic therapy. The successful construction of this NIR light-triggered targeted photothermal multifunctional nanoplatform will provide a promising strategy for the design and development of synergistic chemo-photothermal combination therapy and improve the therapeutic efficacy of cancer treatment.