A narrow-bandgap RuI3 nanoplatform to synergize radiotherapy, photothermal therapy, and thermoelectric dynamic therapy for tumor eradication.

Therapeutic resistance is an essential challenge for nanotherapeutics. Herein, a narrow bandgap RuI 3 nanoplatform has been constructed firstly to synergize radiotherapy (RT), photothermal therapy (PTT), and thermoelectric dynamic therapy (TEDT) for tumor eradication. Specifically, the photothermal performance of RuI 3 can ablate tumor cells while inducing TEDT. Noteworthy, the thermoelectric effect is found firstly in RuI 3 , which can spontaneously generate an electric field under the temperature gradient, prompting carrier separation and triggering massive ROS generation, thus aggravating oxidative stress level and effectively inhibiting HSP-90 expression. Moreover, RuI 3 greatly enhances X-ray deposition owing to its high X-ray attenuation capacity, resulting in a pronounced computed tomography imaging contrast and DNA damage. In addition, RuI 3 possesses both catalase-like and glutathione peroxidase-like properties, which alleviate tumor hypoxia and reduce antioxidant resistance, further exacerbating ¹O 2 production during RT and TEDT. This integrated therapy platform combining PTT, TEDT, and RT significantly inhibits tumor growth. RuI 3 nanoparticles were synthesized for the first time. RuI 3 exhibited the highest photothermal properties among iodides, and the photothermal conversion efficiency was 53.38 %. RuI 3 was found to have a thermoelectric effect, and the power factor could be comparable to that of most conventional thermoelectric materials. RuI 3 possessed both catalase-like and glutathione peroxidase-like properties, which contributed to enhancing the effect of radiotherapy. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]