Biodegradable T2-phage-like Janus nanoparticles for actively-targeted and chemo-photothermal synergistic therapy

• AuBJNP is prepared through a thermodynamics controlled adsorption-reduction method. • T2-phage-like AS1411-AuBJNP-ICG is prepared by selective surface modification. • AS1411-AuBJNP-ICG is similar to T2-phage in structure, composition and function. • AS1411-AuBJNP-ICG represent good performance in tumor-targeting and biodegradation. • AS1411-AuBJNP-ICG is efficient in chemo-photothermal cancer therapy. Snowman-like Au-BNP (bovine serum albumin nanoparticle) Janus nanoparticles (AuBJNPs) are prepared through a facile adsorption-reduction seeds mediated growth method. The formation of the snowman-like structure is driven by a thermodynamic spontaneous process controlled by the reduction kinetics of AuCl 4 - ions. Thereafter, the AuBJNP nanoparticles have been selectively modified with thiol-aptamer AS1411 for specific tumor-targeting and NIR dye, Indocyanine green-amine (ICG-NH 2 ), for improving the photothermal effect. The final obtained AS1411-AuBJNP-ICG Janus nanoparticles possess a tumor-targeting head and a biodegradable and NIR responsive body which similar to T2-phage both in morphology and composition. In addition, DOX(doxorubin)-loaded AS1411-AuBJNP-ICG under 808 nm NIR laser irradiation exhibited higher tumor inhibition ability and specific tumor-targeting ability at cellular and animal levels, implying that the multifunctional T2-phage-like AS1411-AuBJNP-ICG can provide a potential bio-inspired nanoplatform in the field of active tumor-targeting and chemo-photothermal cancer synergistic therapy.