Preparation of a one-dimensional nanorod/metal organic framework Janus nanoplatform via side-specific growth for synergistic cancer therapy

Janus nanoparticles (JNPs) have emerged in recent years as new compartmentalized colloids with two sides of different components, chemical properties or morphologies that have opened up a wide range of unique applications in biomedicine. Here, we explored a unique lactobionic acid (LA) modified metallic one-dimensional nanorod/metal organic framework (1D NR/MOF) JNP, the LA-gold NR/zeolitic imidazolate framework-8 (LA-AuNR/ZIF-8) JNP, for computed X-ray tomography (CT) image-guided liver cancer targeted synergistic chemo-photothermal theranostics. Taking advantage of the 1D nanostructure of the AuNRs, polyacrilic acid (PAA) was selectively attached to one side of the AuNRs for further growth of ZIF-8, and the exposed side of the AuNRs was modified with the targeting agent LA, thus realizing the drug loading and cancer specific targeting. In addition, the high contrast of Au makes the LA-AuNR/ZIF-8 JNPs suitable for CT image-guided cancer therapy. Furthermore, mice treated with doxorubicin (DOX) loaded LA-AuNR/ZIF-8 JNPs under near infrared (NIR) laser irradiation showed significant tumor inhibition, indicating the effective combination of pH and NIR stimuli response release, cancer specific targeting and synergistic chemotherapy and photothermal therapy.