A stimuli-responsive porous carbon nanovehicle for light-initiating and thermo-driving phototheranostics of renal cell carcinoma.

Based on DNA-gated stimuli-responsive nanoscale porous carbon, a smart phototheranostic nanovehicle, which can respond to targeted near-infrared laser irradiation, is assembled. Utilizing single-stranded DNA as a gating molecule through π-π interactions, the nanoscale porous carbon loaded with photothermal organic dyes was completely packaged. Under laser irradiation, synergistic photothermal conversion is initiated, and the temperature rises up to nearly 55°C in the designated region, which provides an ideal local condition for photothermal therapy. In the meantime, heat drives single-stranded DNA (ssDNA) detaching from the surface of NCZIF, and organic dyes are leaked for in situ fluorescent imaging of tumor sites. As a proof of concept, two nanovehicles, ICG@NCZIF and MB@NCZIF, are separately prepared and systematically compared. The better-performed ICG@NCZIF is further used in in vivo phototheranostics of renal cell carcinoma (RCC) and exhibits satisfactory results of tumor inhibition and accurate tumor imaging. Thus, the as-designed phototheranostics nanovehicle ICG@NCZIF holds potential for (pre)clinical translational development.