Enhanced photostability and targeting ability of hollow mesoporous manganese-based nanocarriers for NIR-II fluorescence image-guided surgery and photothermal therapy.

Hollow mesoporous manganese (HMM)-based nanocarriers, incorporating nanoparticle cavities and mesoporous channels, enhance the photostability and photobleaching resistance of indocyanine green (ICG). The addition of H2N-c(RGDfK)-OH (RGD) ensures precise targeting, making the cRGD&PEG2000-HMM@ICG (R&P-M@ICG) nanoprobe ideal for NIR-II fluorescence image-guided surgery and photothermal therapy (PTT). This approach offers accurate targeting, high therapeutic efficacy, and reduced side effects. The inclusion of manganese (Mn) in the nanocarriers further boosts the therapeutic effects by enabling chemodynamic therapy (CDT). Mn ions catalyze the conversion of hydrogen peroxide (HO) into highly reactive hydroxyl radicals (•OH) within the tumor microenvironment. The synergy between Mn-driven CDT and PTT enhances tumor ablation, as the heat from PTT accelerates ROS production from CDT, leading to more effective tumor cell damage and apoptosis. The dual action of PTT and CDT overcomes the limitations of single-modal therapies. While PTT induces hyperthermia to kill tumor cells, Mn-assisted CDT amplifies the ROS generation, further enhancing treatment efficacy. This combined effect makes the R&P-M@ICG nanoprobe a powerful tool for cancer treatment, demonstrating superior anti-tumor efficacy compared to conventional therapies. In this study, we synthesized the R&P-M@ICG nanoprobe, highlighting its potential for precise surgical navigation, and for synergistic photothermal and chemodynamic therapy in cancer treatment.