Cobalt-doped hollow polydopamine for oxygen generation and GSH consumption enhanced chemo-PTT combined cancer therapy

Nanotechnology has revolutionized the field of therapeutics by introducing a plethora of nanomaterials capable of enhancing traditional drug efficacy or paving the way for innovative treatment methods. Within this domain, we propose a novel Cobalt-doped hollow polydopamine nanosphere system. This system, incorporating Doxorubicin loading and hyaluronic acid (HA) surface coating (CoHPDA@DOX-HA), is designed for combined tumor therapy. The overarching aim is to diminish the administration dosage, mitigate the cytotoxic side effects of chemotherapy drugs, augment chemosensitivity within neoplastic tissues, and attain superior results in tumor treatment via combined therapeutic strategies. The targeted molecule, hyaluronic acid (HA), amplifies the biocompatibility of CoHPDA@DOX-HA throughout circulation and fosters endocytosis of the nanoparticle system within cancer cells. This nanosphere system possesses pH sensitivity properties, allowing for a meticulous drug release within the acidic microenvironment of tumor cells. Concurrently, Polydopamine (PDA) facilitates proficient photothermal therapy upon exposure to 808 nm laser irradiation. This process further amplifies the Glutathione (GSH) depletion, and when coupled with the oxygen production capabilities of the Cobalt-doped hollow PDA, significantly enhances the chemo-photothermal therapeutic efficiency. Findings from the treatment of tumor-bearing mice substantiate that even at dosages equivalent to a singular DOX administration, the CoHPDA@DOX-HA can provide efficacious synergistic therapy. Therefore, it is anticipated that multifunctional nanomaterials with Photoacoustic Tomography (PAT) imaging capabilities, targeted delivery, and a controlled collaborative therapeutic framework may serve as promising alternatives for accurate diagnostics and efficacious treatment strategies.