Rod-like MSN@Au Nanohybrids modified supermolecular photosensitizer for NIRF/MSOT/CT/MR Quadmodal Imaging Guided Photothermal/Photodynamic Cancer Therapy.

Recently, rod-like nanomaterials with specific aspect ratio (AR) for efficient cellular uptake have received enormous attention. For functional nanomaterials, such as photothermal agents, large surface areas for their rod-shape exterior that increase the amount of light absorbed would lead to the higher absorption coefficient as well as drug loading property. In this project, we coated rod-like mesoporous silica with gold nanoshell (MSNR@Au hybrid), modifying with ultrasmall gadolinium (Gd) chelated supramolecular photosensitizers TPPS4 (MSNR@Au-TPPS4(Gd)), which could be applied to near-infrared fluorescence (NIRF) / multispectral optoacoustic tomography (MSOT) / computed tomography (CT) / magnetic resonance (MR) imaging and imaging guided remotely controlled PTT/PDT combined antitumor therapy. Gold nanoshell, as a perfect PTT agent, was used to assemble the rod-like mesoporous silica nanoparticles with larger superficial area and higher drug loading, thus obtaining MSNR@Au hybrid. HS-β-CD, which was used as the host, was adsorbed on gold nanoshell (MSNR@Au-β-CD) to link TPPS4(Gd) through host-guest reaction, thus forming CD-TPPS4 supramolecular PSs (supraPSs). Compared with conventional PSs, supraPSs had the host screens, which could reduce the self-aggregation of the TPPS4, and consequently generate 1O2 with high-efficiency. The quad-modal imaging in vivo of MSNR@Au-TPPS4(Gd) nanoparticles revealed that an intensive tumor uptake effect after injection. In vivo antitumor efficacy further testified that the synergistic therapy, which was more efficient than any other mono-therapy, exhibited an excellent tumor inhibition therapeutic effect. As a result, it's encouraged to further explore multifunctional theranostic nanoparticles based of gold shells for cancer combination therapy.