Prodrug‐Loaded Zirconium Carbide Nanosheets as a Novel Biophotonic Nanoplatform for Effective Treatment of Cancer

Conventional chemotherapy and photothermal therapy (PTT) face many major challenges, including systemic toxicity, low bioavailability, ineffective tissue penetration, chemotherapy/hyperthermia‐induced inflammation, and tumor angiogenesis. A versatile nanomedicine offers an exciting opportunity to circumvent the abovementioned limitations for their successful translation into clinical practice. Here, a promising biophotonic nanoplatform is developed based on the zirconium carbide (ZrC) nanosheet as a deep PTT‐photosensitizer and on‐demand designed anticancer prodrug SN38‐Nif, which is released and activated by photothermia and tumor‐overexpressed esterase. In vitro and in vivo experimental evidence shows the potent anticancer effects of the integrated ZrC@prodrug biophotonic nanoplatform by specifically targeting malignant cells, chemotherapy/hyperthermia‐induced tumor inflammation, and angiogenesis. In mouse models, the ZrC@prodrug system markedly inhibits tumor recurrence, metastasis, inflammation and angiogenesis. The findings unravel a promising biophotonic strategy for precision treatment of cancer.
A biophotonic nanoplatform based on the zirconium carbide (ZrC) nanosheet as a deep photothermal therapy‐photosensitizer and on‐demand designed anticancer prodrug SN38‐Nif is developed. Both physically controlled and bioresponsive mode are employed to smartly release drugs. The ZrC@prodrug system markedly inhibits tumor recurrence, metastasis, inflammation, and angiogenesis. The findings unravel a promising biophotonic strategy for precision treatment of cancer.