Ultrasmall WO3–x@γ-poly-l-glutamic Acid Nanoparticles as a Photoacoustic Imaging and Effective Photothermal-Enhanced Chemodynamic Therapy Agent for Cancer

Synergistic treatment strategies for cancer have attracted increasing attention owing to their enhanced therapeutic effects compared with monotherapy. Chemodynamic therapy (CDT) is an emerging and thriving in situ treatment for cancer owing to its high regioselectivity and activation only by endogenous substances. However, the therapeutic effects of CDT are hindered by low reaction speeds. Here, ultrasmall WO3–x@γ-poly-l-glutamic acid (WO3–x@γ-PGA) nanoparticles (NPs) with good photoacoustic and photothermal properties were prepared, and their chemodynamic performance based on a Fenton-like reaction was explored due to its good catalytic effect. The synergistic treatment effect was also investigated by photothermal-enhanced CDT based on single WO3–x@γ-PGA NPs using a penetrating near-infrared-II laser both in vitro and in vivo. This work provides an effective treatment for cancer and further develops the CDT.