Covalent Organic Framework Nanocages with Enhanced Carrier Utilization and Cavitation Effect for Cancer Sonodynamic Therapy

Ultrasound (US)-triggered sonodynamic therapy (SDT) is an emerging method for treating cancer due to its non-invasive nature and high-depth tissue penetration ability. However, current sonosensitizers commonly have unsatisfactory quantum yields of free radicals. In this work, we have developed unique organic semiconductor π-conjugated covalent organic framework nanocages (COFNs) as highly efficient sonosensitizers to boost free radical (1O2 and •OH) production and cancer therapy. With the hollow and porous structure and band transport behavior, COFNs displayed remarkably improved SDT performance through enhanced electron utilization and cavitation effect, with a 1.8-fold increase in US pressure and a 64.8% increase in 1O2 production relative to the core–shell-structured COF under US irradiation. The in vitro and in vivo experimental results verified the elevated SDT performance, showing a high tumor suppression of 91.4% against refractory breast cancer in mice. This work provides a promising strategy to develop high-performance sonosensitizers for cancer therapy

Self-Driven Electrical Stimulation-Promoted Cancer Catalytic Therapy and Chemotherapy Based on an Implantable Nanofibrous Patch

The efficacy of cancer catalytic therapy is still hindered by the inefficient generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS). Herein, we report a self-driven electrical stimulation-promoted cancer catalytic therapy and chemotherapy by integrating a human-driven triboelectric nanogenerator (TENG) with an implantable and biodegradable nanofibrous patch. The gelatin/polycaprolactone nanofibrous patch incorporates doxorubicin (DOX) and graphitic carbon nitride (g-C3N4), in which the peroxidase (POD)-like activity of g-C3N4 to produce hydroxyl radical (•OH) can be distinctly enhanced by the self-driven electrical stimulation for 4.12-fold, and simultaneously DOX can be released to synergize the therapy, especially under a weakly acidic tumor microenvironment (TME) condition. The in vitro and in vivo experimental results on a mouse breast cancer model demonstrate superior tumor suppression outcome. The self-powered electrical stimulation-enhanced catalytic therapy and chemotherapy via multifunctional nanofibrous patches proposes a new complementary strategy for the catalytic therapy of solid tumors