Hemoglobin-Decorated Boron-Carbon Nanosheets with Catalytic Ability and Near-Infrared II Light Response for Tumor Photothermal- Chemodynamic Therapy

Carbon-based nanomaterials are a kind of attractive photothermal agents (PTAs) for tumor photothermal therapy (PTT). However, their inherent fluorescent emission always compromises the photothermal conversion efficiency and is a huge obstruction that needs to be solved. Herein, a kind of hemoglobin (Hb)-decorated boron-carbon nanosheets (BC NSs) was designed and developed with catalytic ability and near-infrared II light-responsive performance for photoacoustic (PA) imaging guided synergistic tumor PTT/chemodynamic therapy (CDT). BC NSs were synthesized from biomass gelatin, coated with a polydopamine (PDA) layer, and decorated with Fenton agent Hb. The formed BC-PDA-Hb (BCPH) NSs had no fluorescent emission, high photothermal conversion performance (47.8% under 1064 nm laser irradiation), and excellent PA imaging capability. The Fe2+ carried in Hb can react with intratumoral overexpressed H2O2 to generate toxic hydroxyl radicals. In vitro and in vivo data revealed that BCPH NSs can achieve effective tumor elimination through synergistic PTT/CDT without detectable adverse effects on normal tissues. This work offers an effective strategy to develop carbon-based nanomedicines owning promoted photothermal performance and high biocompatibility for tumor theranostic applications.

Automated summary

Hemoglobin-decorated boron-carbon nanosheets (BC NSs) with catalytic ability and near-infrared II light-responsive performance were designed for photoacoustic (PA) imaging guided synergistic tumor PTT/CDT. This work provides an effective strategy to develop carbon-based nanomedicines with enhanced photothermal performance and high biocompatibility for tumor theranostic applications.