Conclusion
Our findings indicate that maintaining the sensitivity of tumor cells via MPI could enhance anti-tumor PDT, and may be applied to other dynamic therapies such as radiodynamic therapy and sonodynamic therapy.
Methods
A metabolic pre-intervention (MPI) strategy that targets critical pathways of cellular metabolism, ensuring long-term modulation of the intracellular environment. A versatile lipid-coating photosensitive metal-organic framework (MOF) nano-vehicle encapsulating aerobic respiration inhibitor metformin (Met) and GSH biosynthesis inhibitor buthionine sulfoximine (BSO) (termed PBMLR) was developed for comprehensive sustainable hypoxia alleviation and GSH downregulating.
Results
Since MPI could effectively circumvent the compensatory accessory pathway, PBMLR, therefore functioned as an efficient singlet oxygen (1O2) radical generator during the subsequent laser irradiation process and enhanced PDT anti-tumor efficiency. We emphasized the concordance of long-term hypoxia alleviation, persistent GSH depletion, and tumor enrichment of photosensitizers, which is very meaningful for a broad therapeutic time window and the successful enhancement of PDT.