Multifunctional iron oxide‐hydroxide based nanorods for hydrogen sulfide scavenging assisted synergistic photothermal-chemotherapy of colon cancer

The tumor microenvironment responsive multifunctional nanoplatforms with integrated diagnosis and therapy have recently received great attention in anti-cancer treatment. In this study, we developed biocompatible iron oxide-hydroxide-based nanorods (DOX-FPT NRs) for MR imaging and H2S scavenging assisted synergistic photothermal-chemotherapy of colon cancer, which is fabricated by modifying polydopamine (PDA) and transferrin (Tf) on the surface of iron oxide hydroxide (FeOOH) nanorods. The prepared DOX-FPT NRs could precisely target the colon cancer cells through transferrin ligand-receptor-mediated targeting and effectively scavenge endogenous H2S to prohibit the growth of colon cancer. Meanwhile, the considerable drug loading capability and outstanding photothermal conversion efficiency are permitted by the PDA shell modification. In addition, the H2S scavenging assisted photothermal-chemotherapy showed an excellent therapeutic effect on CT26 cells via in vitro cell test. Therefore, the prepared DOX-PFT NRs will be a promising nanoplatform to enhance the therapeutic effect of colon cancer through the treatment strategy of H2S scavenging-assisted synergistic photothermal chemotherapy.