2D Core/Shell-Structured Mesoporous Silicene@Silica for Targeted and Synergistic NIR-II-Induced Photothermal Ablation and Hypoxia-Activated Chemotherapy of Tumor

Silicene nanosheets, the emerging 2D nanomaterial, as the third topology of silicon-composed materials with distinct physicochemical properties, is a desirable candidate for photothermal-conversion nanoagent (PTA) and drug-delivery nanosystems. Inspired by the individual physiochemical properties and structure features of mesoporous silica and 2D silicene, a distinctive 2D core/shell-structured multifunctional silicon-composed theranostic nanoplatform (Silicene@Silica) is constructed by coating a mesoporous silica layer onto the surface of 2D silicene nanosheets. The well-defined mesopores originating from mesoporous silica shell provide the reservoirs for guest drug molecules and the core of silicene produces heat shock upon NIR-II laser irradiation, aiming to induce the synergistic cancer-therapeutic modality. Importantly, when AQ4N, hypoxia-activated prodrug, is introduced into this system, this nanoplatform (Silicene@Silica-AQ4N) exhibits tumor microenvironment (TME)-responsive and synergistic hyperthermia-augmented therapeutic bioactivity. Such a nanoplatform can amplify the hypoxia of TME by destroying the tumor microcirculation and then further efficiently activate AQ4N, a DNA affinity agent and topoisomerase II inhibitor. The results reveal that this multifunctional theranostic nanoplatform can efficiently eliminate tumors without recurrence.

Automated summary

A multifunctional theranostic nanoplatform composed of silicene and silica with mesoporous structure stores drug molecules and generates heat therapy, providing a synergistic cancer treatment approach.