Black phosphorus nanosheets-based platform for targeted chemo-photothermal synergistic cancer therapy

As a new member of two-dimensional (2D) nanomaterials, black phosphorus (BP) has been considered as efficient photothermal therapy (PTT) agents owing to its excellent photothermal efficiency and biodegradability. Herein, a multifunctional nanoplatform based on black phosphorus nanosheets (BP NSs) was developed for chemo-photothermal synergistic cancer therapy. The BP NSs were successfully prepared by a liquid exfoliation technique. Doxorubicin (DOX), as a model drug, was loaded into the cavity of poly (amidoamine) (PAMAM) dendrimer using thin film hydration method. Then, [email protected] was coated on the surface of BP NSs using an electrostatic adsorption method that combined bath sonication with magnetic stirring. Hyaluronic acid (HA) was also modified onto the BP [email protected] through electrostatic adsorption. PAMAM and HA layer could effectively isolate BP NSs from water and air to improve physiological stability. BP NSs and BP [email protected] were characterized by particle size, zeta potential, morphology, UV–vis-NIR absorption spectra, stability, photothermal performance and photothermal stability. This nanosystem exhibited a good pH and near infrared (NIR) dual-responsive drug release property. In addition, the obtained BP [email protected] OX-HA nanocomposites possessed excellent PTT efficiency both in vitro and in vivo. The in vitro cell experiments suggested that the targeted BP [email protected] presented greater cytotoxicity and higher cellular uptake efficiency. Tumor xenograft model was established in BALB/C mice. The therapeutic effect of BP [email protected] was further augmented under 808 nm laser irradiation, displaying superior antitumor effect in comparison with chemotherapy or PTT alone. Such a biodegradable BP NS-based platform provide new insights for the rational design of PTT-based combinational cancer therapy.