Peroxidase-Mimicking Ir-Te Nanorods for Photoconversion-Combined Multimodal Cancer Therapy

Owing to multiple physicochemical properties, the combination of hybrid elemental compositions of nanoparticles can be widely utilized for a variety of applications. To combine pristine tellurium nanorods, which act as a sacrificing template, with another element, iridium-tellurium nanorods (IrTeNRs) were synthesized via the galvanic replacement technique. Owing to the coexistence of iridium and tellurium, IrTeNRs exhibited unique properties, such as peroxidase-like activity and photoconversion. Additionally, the IrTeNRs demonstrated exceptional colloidal stability in complete media. Based on these properties, the IrTeNRs were applied to in vitro and in vivo cancer therapy, allowing for the possibility of multiple therapeutic methodologies. The enzymatic therapy was enabled by the peroxidase-like activity that generated reactive oxygen species, and the photoconversion under 473, 660 and 808 nm laser irradiation induced cancer cell apoptosis via photothermal and photodynamic therapy.

Automated summary

Due to their unique physicochemical properties, hybrid nanoparticles with different elemental compositions can be widely used for various applications. In this study, iridium-tellurium nanorods (IrTeNRs) were synthesized by galvanic replacement to combine the sacrificial template properties of tellurium nanorods with the presence of iridium. The resulting IrTeNRs exhibited peroxidase-like activity, photoconversion, and exceptional colloidal stability in complete media. Based on these properties, IrTeNRs were applied for cancer therapy, enabling enzymatic therapy through reactive oxygen species generation and cancer cell apoptosis through photothermal and photodynamic therapy under laser irradiation.