A biomimetic nanoreactor for synergistic chemiexcited photodynamic therapy and starvation therapy against tumor metastasis

Abstract Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is ineffective against deeply seated metastatic tumors due to poor penetration of the excitation light. Herein, we developed a biomimetic nanoreactor (bio-NR) to achieve synergistic chemiexcited photodynamic-starvation therapy against tumor metastasis. Photosensitizers on the hollow mesoporous silica nanoparticles (HMSNs) are excited by chemical energy in situ of the deep metastatic tumor to generate singlet oxygen ( 1 O 2 ) for PDT, and glucose oxidase (GOx) catalyzes glucose into hydrogen peroxide (H 2 O 2 ). Remarkably, this process not only blocks the nutrient supply for starvation therapy but also provides H 2 O 2 to synergistically enhance PDT. Cancer cell membrane coating endows the nanoparticle with biological properties of homologous adhesion and immune escape. Thus, bio-NRs can effectively convert the glucose into 1 O 2 in metastatic tumors. The excellent therapeutic effects of bio-NRs in vitro and in vivo indicate their great potential for cancer metastasis therapy.