Enhancing magnetic resonance/photoluminescence imaging-guided photodynamic therapy by multiple pathways

Mitochondria, which are a major source of adenosine triphosphate (ATP) and apoptosis regulators, are the key organelles that promote tumor cell proliferation, and their dysfunction affects tumor cell behavior. Additionally, mitochondria have been shown to play a central role in the biosynthesis of protoporphyrin IX (PpIX), which is a widely used photosensitizer that has been used for tumor detection, monitoring and photodynamic therapy. Nevertheless, photosensitizers administrated exogenously are often restricted by limited bioavailability.δ-Aminolevulinic acid (δ-ALA) is a naturally occurring delta amino acid that can be converted in situ to PpIX via the heme biosynthetic pathway in mitochondria. Because δ-ALA is the precursor for PpIX, δ-ALA-based photodynamic therapy (PDT) shows promise in treating cancer. However, the accumulation of δ-ALA within endosomal system limits the production of PpIX and eventually impedes its effectiveness. Theranostic nanoparticles (NPs) capable of endosomal escape are expected to optimize the endogenous biosynthetic yield. In this study, δ-ALA was improved with triphenylphosphoniumcation (TPP+), a high net position cation that functions in endosomal escape and as a mitochondria-targeting ligand, and was further modified with bovine serum albumin stabilized manganese dioxide (MnO2). The tumor microenvironment (TME) responsive MnO2 in this system can elevate oxygen content to relieve hypoxia. Both enhanced photosensitizer yield and elevated oxygen contributing to the final therapeutic effect. Moreover, the enhancement of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) (r1 = 5.410 s−1mM−1) stemming from the degradation of MnO2 by the TME could serve as a guide prior to treatment for accurate location, while in situ hysteretic photoluminescence imaging derived from PpIX can be utilize as a supervisor for prognosis evaluation. This systematic design could broaden the biomedical application and highlight the considerable therapeutic promise of PDT.