Right Cu2−xS@MnS Core–Shell Nanoparticles as a Photo/H2O2‐Responsive Platform for Effective Cancer Theranostics

Abstract

Abstract Stimuli‐responsive nanomedicines have become a recent research focus as a candidate for cancer treatment because of their effectiveness, sensibility, and minimal invasiveness. In this work, a novel nanosystem is developed based on Cu2−xS@MnS core–shell nanoparticles (CSNPs) in which the Cu2−xS core serves as a photosensitizer to generate hyperthermia and reactive oxygen species (ROS), and the MnS shell is used in H2O2‐responsive O2 production. Cu2−xS@MnS CSNPs with an independent core and shell ratio are synthesized by a controllable hot‐injection method, resulting in an optimal photothermal (PT) effect with a PT conversion efficiency of up to 47.9%. An enhanced photodynamic (PD) effect also occurs in an H2O2 environment. More significantly, in vivo experiments demonstrate that Cu2−xS@MnS CSNPs can mediate tumor shrinkage in both HeLa tumor cell line‐derived xenograft (CDX) and head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) patient‐derived xenograft (PDX) models, with the capability of being used as a T1‐enhanced magnetic resonance (MR) contrast agent. These results suggest the great potential of as‐prepared Cu2−xS@MnS CSNPs as photo/H2O2‐responsive therapeutic‐agents against tumors, even in a complicated and heterogeneous environment, thus promoting the clinical translation of nanomedicine.

Keywords

• cancer treatment
• Cu2−xS@MnS
• patient‐derived xenografts
• photo/H2O2‐responsive platforms
• tumor cell line‐derived xenografts