pH/ROS dual stimuli-responsive anionic flexible supramolecular organic frameworks for synergistic therapy

Supramolecular organic frameworks (SOFs) have emerged as a promising class of organic porous materials with vast potential as nanocarriers for combination therapy. Here, we successfully construct an anionic flexible supramolecular organic framework (TPP-SOF) by leveraging multiple host-guest interactions. TPP-SOF is fabricated by the hierarchical orthogonal assembly between anionic water-soluble dimacrocyclic host (P5CD), porphyrin photosensitizers (TPP), and ROS-sensitive thioketal linked adamantane dimer (Ada-S-Ada). TPP-SOF exhibits pH-dependent activation of 1O2 production, which further facilitates the cleavage of Ada-S-Ada linker and promotes the disintegration of the framework. Moreover, leveraging electrostatic and hydrophobic interactions, the anionic TPP-SOF serves as an effective platform for loading cationic photosensitizer IR780 and chemotherapeutic prodrug PhenPt(IV), leading to the formation of supramolecular nanoparticles (IR780/Pt@TPP-SOF) for synergistic therapy. The obtained nanoparticles exhibit good stability, efficient generation of 1O2, and photothermal performance. In vitro and in vivo studies indicate that IR780/Pt@TPP-SOF exhibits remarkable synergistic chemo/PDT/PTT effects under 808 and 660 nm light irradiation. This study showcases a deep insight for the development of SOFs and a new approach for delivering cationic drugs and constructing synergistic combination therapy systems. STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE: In this work, a pH/ROS-responsive anionic flexible supramolecular organic framework, TPP-SOF, was innovatively designed by the hierarchical orthogonal assembly, to co-deliver cationic photosensitizer IR780 and prodrug PhenPt(IV) for synergistic cancer therapy. The drug-loaded TPP-SOF is termed IR780/Pt@TPP-SOF, in which the photoactivity of porphyrin within TPP-SOF could be activated under acidic conditions, the 1O2 generated by the photosensitizers could break the thioketal bonds in Ada-S-Ada, leading to the disassembly of the framework and releasing the drugs. This supramolecular drug delivery system displays good biocompatibility and exhibits remarkable synergistic chemo/PDT/PTT effects.