Target Design of Multinary Metal–Organic Frameworks for Near-Infrared Imaging and Chemodynamic Therapy

Imaging-guided chemodynamic therapy is widely considered a promising modality for personalized and precision cancer treatment. Combining both imaging and chemodynamic functions in one system conventionally relies on the hybrid materials approach. However, the heterogeneous, ill-defined, and dissociative/disintegrative nature of the composites tends to complicate their action proceedings in biological environments and thus makes the treatment imprecise and ineffective. Herein, a strategy to employ two kinds of inorganic units with different functions─reactive oxygen species generation and characteristic emission─has achieved two single-crystalline metal–organic frameworks (MOFs), demonstrating the competency of reticular chemistry in creating multifunctional materials with atomic precision. The multinary MOFs could not only catalyze the transformation from H2O2 to hydroxyl radicals by utilizing the redox-active Cu-based units but also emit characteristic tissue-penetrating near-infrared luminescence brought by the Yb4 clusters in the scaffolds. Dual functions of MOF nanoparticles are further evidenced by pronounced cell imaging signals, elevated intracellular reactive oxygen species levels, significant cell apoptosis, and reduced cell viabilities when they are taken up by the HeLa cells. In vivo NIR imaging is demonstrated after the MOF nanoparticles are further functionalized. The independent yet interconnected modules in the intact MOFs could operate concurrently at the same cellular site, achieving a high spatiotemporal consistency. Overall, our work suggests a new method to effectively accommodate both imaging and therapy functions in one well-defined material for precise treatment.