Full-spectrum responsive WO3-x@HA nanotheranostics for NIR-II photoacoustic imaging-guided PTT/PDT/CDT synergistic therapy

The selection of second near-infrared (NIR-II) window-responsive nanotheranostics is significant for precise cancer treatments. In this work, a full-spectrum responsive multifunctional WO3-based nanotheranostic was produced to accomplish NIR-II photoacoustic (PA) imaging-guided photothermal therapy (PTT), photodynamic therapy (PDT) and chemodynamic therapy (CDT) synergistic therapy. For this purpose, oxygen vacancies were formed in WO3, which narrows the band gap and allows WO3-x to absorb over the full spectrum. The WO3-x@HA nanotheranostic was constructed with the successive surface modification of hyaluronic acid (HA) to improve the water dispersibility and tumour targeting efficiency. Upon activation with NIR-II irradiation, WO3-x@HA showed excellent photothermal conversion, reactive oxygen species (ROS) production and a high-resolution photoacoustic (PA) imaging ability. Meanwhile, WO3-x@HA exhibited both Fenton-like reaction and glutathione (GSH) depletion properties; the effective photothermal conversion ability of WO3-x@HA elevates the local temperature and accelerates the Fenton-like process to achieve enhanced PTT/PDT/CDT. The formation of oxygen vacancies was proved to be key to the photothermal, photodynamic and chemodynamic properties of WO3-x@HA, and the corresponding possible mechanisms were proposed. In vitro and in vivo experiments have confirmed that WO3-x@HA has a PTT/PDT/CDT synergistic therapy effect for tumour ablation under real-time NIR-II PA imaging guidance. Therefore, WO3-x@HA reveals the potential for NIR-II irradiation-activated precise theranostics for PA imaging-guided tumour-targeting PTT/PDT/CDT synergistic therapy.

Automated summary

A multifunctional WO3-based nanotheranostic with full-spectrum responsiveness was developed for synergistic therapy involving NIR-II photoacoustic imaging-guided photothermal, photodynamic, and chemodynamic therapies. By forming oxygen vacancies in WO3, the nanotheranostic exhibited enhanced therapeutic properties, including excellent photothermal conversion, reactive oxygen species production, and Fenton-like reaction capabilities, under NIR-II activation. In vitro and in vivo studies confirmed the potential of WO3-x@HA for precise theranostics in tumor-targeted PTT/PDT/CDT under real-time NIR-II PA imaging guidance.