Acta Phys. -Chim. Sin. ›› 2025, Vol. 41 ›› Issue (5): 100042.doi: 10.1016/j.actphy.2024.100042

• ARTICLE • Previous Articles     Next Articles

Highly Efficient, Targeted, and Traceable Perovskite Nanocrystals for Photoelectrocatalytic Oncotherapy

Jian Li1,2,3, Yu Zhang2, Rongrong Yan1,4, Kaiyuan Sun5, Xiaoqing Liu1, Zishang Liang1,4, Yinan Jiao4, Hui Bu2,*(), Xin Chen1,6,*(), Jinjin Zhao1,*(), Jianlin Shi7   

  1. 1 College of Chemistry and Materials Science, Hebei Technology Innovation Center for Energy Conversion Materials and Devices, Hebei Key Laboratory of Inorganic Nanomaterials, Engineering Research Center of Thin Film Solar Cell Materials and Devices, Hebei Province, Hebei Normal University, Shijiazhuang 050024, China
    2 Department of Neurology, The Second Hospital of Hebei Medical University, Key Laboratory of Clinical Neurology (Hebei Medical University), Ministry of Education, Neurological Laboratory of Hebei Province, Shijiazhuang 050051, China
    3 General Practice Department, Hengshui People's Hospital, Hengshui 053000, Hebei Province, China
    4 School of Materials Science and Engineering, Shijiazhuang Tiedao University, Shijiazhuang 050043, China
    5 School of Biological Science and Medical Engineering, Beihang University, Beijing 100191, China
    6 Department of Neurology, Xingtai People's Hospital, Xingtai Key Laboratory of Neurology, Xingtai 054001, Hebei Province, China
    7 Shanghai Institute of Ceramics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200050, China
  • Received:2024-10-18 Revised:2024-11-29 Accepted:2024-11-30 Published:2025-04-18
  • Contact: 26500825@hebmu.edu.cn (Hui Bu)xinc2019@126.com (Xin Chen)
  • Supported by:
    the National Natural Science Foundation of China(U2130128); the Yanzhao Young Scientist Project from Hebei Natural Science Foundation(B2023205040); the Basic Research Cooperation Special Foundation of Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei Region from Hebei Natural Science Foundation(H2022205047); the Basic Research Cooperation Special Foundation of Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei Region from Hebei Natural Science Foundation(22JCZXJC00060); the Basic Research Cooperation Special Foundation of Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei Region from Hebei Natural Science Foundation(E3B33911DF); the Central Government Guiding Local Science and Technology Development Project(236Z7753G); the Central Government Guiding Local Science and Technology Development Project(246Z7755G); Key Cultivation Special Project for Basic Research from Hebei Education Department(JCZX2025007); Introducing Intelligence and Talent Cultivation Special Fundation from Hebei Provincial Department of Science and Technology; the Innovation Capability Improvement Plan Project of Hebei Province(22567604H); the Ph.D Scientific Research Start-up Fund of Hebei Normal University(L2023B18); the College student's innovation and entrepreneurship training plan program(S202410094046)

Abstract:

Metal halide perovskites have emerged as highly promising materials in optoelectronics, owing to their unique multidimensional crystal structures that impart exceptional optical and electronic properties. These materials exhibit remarkable fluorescence imaging and tracking capabilities, as well as efficient photoelectric conversion, making them suitable for a broad range of applications. Nevertheless, despite their significant potential, their poor water stability has posed a major challenge, particularly in biomedical fields such as drug delivery systems, biological imaging, and photoelectrocatalytic oncotherapy. This limitation has hindered their practical use in medical treatments and diagnostics. In this study, we address the water stability issue by successfully synthesizing CsSn0.5Pb0.5Br3 perovskite nanocrystals (PeNCs) and conjugating them with methotrexate-chitosan-folic acid (MTX-CS-FA), resulting in innovative green light-emitting PeNCs@MTX-CS-FA nanoparticles. These nanoparticles exhibited remarkable water stability, maintaining their structural and functional integrity for up to 228 d, a significant improvement that enables their application in complex biological environments. Under visible light illumination, the nanoparticles demonstrated a dual-action therapeutic mechanism. The perovskites effectively generated electrons and reactive oxygen species (ROS), inducing oxidative stress in tumor cells. At the same time, photogenerated holes oxidized glutathione (GSH), a molecule that is typically overexpressed in tumor cells to protect against oxidative damage. By depleting GSH, the nanoparticles weakened the tumor cells' efense mechanisms, thereby enhancing the oxidative damage caused by ROS. In addition, methotrexate (MTX), a chemotherapeutic agent integrated into the system, inhibited dihydrofolate reductase (DHFR) activity. This inhibition disrupted tumor cell metabolism, particularly nucleotide synthesis, leading to lipid peroxidation and subsequent cell death. Together, these mechanisms generated a potent, synergistic therapeutic effect. The therapeutic efficacy of the PeNCs@MTX-CS-FA nanoparticles was validated through in vivo antitumor experiments in mice. A total dose of 2.4 mg of nanoparticles resulted in a 63.68% reduction in tumor volume and a 63.26% decrease in tumor weight, demonstrating significant tumor growth suppression. Biological safety evaluations further confirmed the nanoparticles' biocompatibility. Notably, they were excreted from the mice in their fluorescent form without decomposition, ensuring minimal long-term toxicity. This safe excretion pathway underscores the feasibility of repeated use of these nanoparticles in clinical applications. Overall, this study highlights the transformative potential of metal halide perovskites in cancer treatment. By overcoming the water stability limitations that have previously constrained their biomedical applications, the PeNCs@MTX-CS-FA nanoparticles exhibited outstanding capabilities in real-time bioimaging and effective photoelectrocatalytic chemotherapy, thus paving the way for future innovations in biomedical science.

Key words: Oncotherapy, Bioimaging, Perovskite nanoparticle, Photoelectrocatalytic chemotherapy