Titanium-Based Nanoscale Metal–Organic Framework for Type I Photodynamic Therapy

Nanoscale metal–organic frameworks (nMOFs) have shown great potential as nanophotosensitizers for photodynamic therapy (PDT) owing to their high photosensitizer loadings, facile diffusion of reactive oxygen species (ROSs) through their porous structures, and intrinsic biodegradability. The exploration of nMOFs in PDT, however, remains limited to an oxygen-dependent type II mechanism. Here we report the design of a new nMOF, Ti-TBP, composed of Ti-oxo chain secondary building units (SBUs) and photosensitizing 5,10,15,20-tetra(p-benzoato)porphyrin (TBP) ligands, for hypoxia-tolerant type I PDT. Upon light irradiation, Ti-TBP not only sensitizes singlet oxygen production, but also transfers electrons from excited TBP* species to Ti4+-based SBUs to afford TBP•+ ligands and Ti3+ centers, thus propagating the generation of superoxide, hydrogen peroxide, and hydroxyl radicals. By generating four distinct ROSs, Ti-TBP-mediated PDT elicits superb anticancer efficacy with >98% tumor regression and 60% cure rate.