A Hybrid Nanomaterial for the Controlled Generation of Free Radicals and Oxidative Destruction of Hypoxic Cancer Cells

Overview

Journal Angew Chem Int Ed Engl

Specialty Chemistry

Date 2017 May 3

PMID 28464414

Citations 42

Authors

Song Shen

Chunlei Zhu

Da Huo

Miaoxin Yang

Jiajia Xue

Younan Xia

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Anticancer modalities based on oxygen free radicals, including photodynamic therapy and radiotherapy, have emerged as promising treatments in the clinic. However, the hypoxic environment in tumor tissue prevents the formation of oxygen free radicals. Here we introduce a novel strategy that employs oxygen-independent free radicals generated from a polymerization initiator for eradicating cancer cells. The initiator is mixed with a phase-change material and loaded into the cavities of gold nanocages. Upon irradiation by a near-infrared laser, the phase-change material is melted due to the photothermal effect of gold nanocages, leading to the release and decomposition of the loaded initiator to generate free radicals. The free radicals produced in this way are highly effective in inducing apoptosis in hypoxic cancer cells.

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