Indocyanine green loaded pH-responsive bortezomib supramolecular hydrogel for synergistic chemo-photothermal/photodynamic colorectal cancer therapy

Colorectal cancer is with high incidence worlwide.. Because of the heterogeneity of the tumor, combination therapy is probably of great significance to improve the prognosis of colorectal cancer patients. Herein, the pH-responsive supramolecular hydrogels mPEG-luteolin-BTZ@ICG based on bortezomib (BTZ) and indocyanine green (ICG) were prepared, and the colorectal cancer was treated with mPEG-luteolin-BTZ@ICG through the combination of photothermal/photodynamic and chemotherapy. BTZ performed drug therapy, meanwhile ICG wrapped in supramolecular hydrogels possessed higher light stability than free ICG to perform photothermal/photodynamic therapy. In vitro and in vivo assays showed excellent inhibition of tumor cells due to the combined effect of BTZ and ICG. The mPEG-luteolin-BTZ@ICG combined with laser therapy possessed exceptional biological safety and provided new candidates for advanced colon cancer therapy and important references for other tumor therapies.