Prussian blue-EGCG nanoparticles for synergistic photothermal and chemo anticancer therapy in vitro

Photothermal therapy (PTT) is an innovative cancer treatment that converts light into heat to induce tumor cell death. Compared to traditional therapies, PTT is minimally invasive, has low drug resistance, and targets tumors with high specificity. However, its standalone use is limited due to potential tumor adaptation to heat and the risk of collateral damage to healthy tissues. Combining PTT with chemotherapy could overcome these challenges. Prussian blue (PB) is a promising photothermal agent due to its strong near-infrared absorption and excellent heat conversion properties, but its small pore size restricts the loading of therapeutic agents. This study introduces a novel nanosystem that modifies PB with an Fe-EGCG polyphenol nano-layer to enhance drug delivery capabilities. The system effectively inhibited cancer cell growth in vitro under low-power near-infrared laser exposure, achieving up to 75 % inhibition by combining mild-temperature (44 °C) photothermal therapy with chemotherapy. This approach offers a viable strategy for integrating non-porous materials into synergistic cancer treatments. [Display omitted] •PEH was designed for low-temperature photothermal/chemotherapy treatment.•PB was coated with an Fe-EGCG polyphenol layer to improve delivery efficiency.•Mild photothermal therapy achieved a 75 % inhibition of 4T1 cancer cells.