Hyaluronic acid-based nanogels derived from multicomponent self-assembly for imaging-guided chemo-photodynamic cancer therapy

Multifunctional theranostic nanoplatforms integrated of imaging function, multi-modality therapy, stimuli-responsiveness, and targeted delivery are of highly desirable attributes in achieving precise medicine. However, preparation of multifunctional nanoplatforms often involves laborious, multiple steps and inevitably utilizes low-biocompatible or non-functional components. Herein we report a facile, one-step self-assembly strategy to fabricate hyaluronic acid (HA)-based multifunctional tumor theranostic nanoplatform by employing magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) agent Mn2+ as a reversible crosslink agent for histidine-grafted HA, along with simultaneously loading chemotherapeutic agent doxorubicin hydrochloride (DOX) and photodynamic therapy agent chlorin e6, to realize MRI-guided targeted chemo-photodynamic cancer therapy. The targeted delivery and stimuli-responsive payload release were demonstrated in vitro and in vivo. Furthermore, the combined chemo-photodynamic therapy of the nanoassembly dramatically improved the cancer therapeutic outcome, in comparison with that of free DOX and nanoplatform solely loaded DOX in a melanoma bearing mice. Our one step assemble strategy is of great potential in clinic transformation.