Multistimuli-Regulated Photochemothermal Cancer Therapy Remotely Controlled <i>via</i> Fe₅C₂ Nanoparticles

Stimuli-controlled drug delivery and release is of great significance in cancer therapy, making a stimuli-responsive drug carrier highly demanded. Herein, a multistimuli-controlled drug carrier was developed by coating bovine serum albumin on Fe₅C₂ nanoparticles (NPs). With a high loading of the anticancer drug doxorubicin, the nanoplatform provides a burst drug release when exposed to near-infrared (NIR) light or acidic conditions. <i>In vitro</i> experiment demonstrated a NIR-regulated cell inhibition that is ascribed from cellular uptake of the carrier and the combination of photothermal therapy and enhanced drug release. The carrier is also magnetic-field-responsive, which enables targeted drug delivery under the guidance of a magnetic field and monitors the theranostic effect by magnetic resonance imaging. <i>In vivo</i> synergistic effect demonstrates that the magnetic-driven accumulation of NPs can induce a complete tumor inhibition without appreciable side effects to the treated mice by NIR irradiation, due to the combined photochemotherapy. Our results highlight the great potential of Fe₅C₂ NPs as a remote-controlled platform for photochemothermal cancer therapy