A DNA functionalized metal-organic framework combined with magnesium peroxide nanoparticles: targeted and enhanced photodynamic therapy

Photodynamic therapy (PDT) has become a promising therapeutic approach in clinical practices. How to improve the efficiency of PDT is still a research hotspot due to tumor hypoxia and insufficient aggregation of photosensitizers (PSs) at the tumor site. Here, we report an aptamer functionalized metal-organic framework combined with magnesium peroxide nanoparticles (Hf-MOF-MgO 2 /DNA) to target and enhance PDT. Hf-MOF-MgO 2 /DNA could produce oxygen in sufficient quantities, solving the hypoxia problem and enhancing PDT. The aptamer simultaneously and specifically targets tumor cells, performing targeted therapy. After PDT treatment in vitro , the Hf-MOF-MgO 2 /DNA platform functionalized by the aptamer of 4T1 cells specifically targeted the cell and achieved a survival rate of 15.15% for the 4T1 cell, while the survival rate for the A549 cell was 28.69% under the same conditions. This work highlights a rational design for efficient reactive oxygen generation in situ and effective PS accumulation in tumors, opening new horizons for the development of theranostic nanomedicines. A self-supplying O 2 nanosystem (Hf-MOF-MgO 2 /DNA) based on a DNA functionalized MOF combined with magnesium peroxide nanoparticles was constructed. This nanosystem can be used for targeted PDT with a significantly enhanced therapeutic efficacy.