Biocompatible CuO-decorated carbon nanoplatforms for multiplexed imaging and enhanced antitumor efficacy via combined photothermal therapy/chemodynamic therapy/chemotherapy

Inspired by the limitations of nanoparticles in cancer treatment caused by their low therapeutic effects and biotoxicity, biocompatible and photothermal enhanced copper oxide-decorated carbon nanospheres (CuO@CNSs) with doxorubicin hydrochloride (DOX) loading were constructed. CNSs as photothermal agents were synthesized by a hydrothermal reaction. CuO was adsorbed on the surface of CNSs, which improved the photothermal conversion efficiency due to the electron transitions between C-2p and Cu-3d. In addition, CuO would release Cu2+ ions in the tumor microenvironment, which could produce hydroxyl radical (·OH) to induce cancer cells apoptosis via Haber-Weiss and Fenton-like reactions. DOX as a chemotherapeutic agent was located on the surface of CuO@CNSs by electrostatic adsorption and released quickly in the tumor microenvironment to kill cancer cells. The CuO@CNSs-DOX nanoplatforms realized the combination therapy of photothermal therapy (PTT), chemodynamic therapy (CDT), and chemotherapy (CT), which have strong potential for cancer treatment.