Facile fabrication of a biodegradable multi-hollow iron phosphate nanoplatform for tumor-specific nanocatalytic therapy and chemotherapy

Abstract

In this study, a type of biodegradable multi-hollow iron phosphate (FeP) with excellent Fenton reaction ability and doxorubicin (DOX) loading capacity is synthesized in one-pot. This hollow FeP with complex interior not only affords high drug loading efficiency, but also obviates DOX leakage in normal tissues. In order to inhibit the formation of inert Fe(OH)_x and endow the nanoplatform with a highly hydrophilic surface, PEG was anchored to it with a dopamine linkage, which formed an Fe chelating complex. DOX-loaded FeP modified with PEG could be disintegrated when responding to the lysosomal acid environment, releasing both ferric and ferrous ions as well as DOX. Therefore, apart from chemotherapy with DOX, the continuously generated iron ions catalyze a fast Fenton reaction with the innate H₂O₂ in tumor cells and produce abundant highly toxic hydroxyl radicals for nanocatalytic tumor therapy. Taken together, we believe that this nanoplatform will significantly advance the fields of both Fe-based nanomaterials and nanocatalytic tumor therapy.