A small-sized and stable 2D metal–organic framework: a functional nanoplatform for effective photodynamic therapy

Abstract

The efficiency of photosensitizers in tumor photodynamic therapy (PDT) often compromises their poor water solubility, low extinction coefficients, photobleaching, and dissatisfactory reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation efficiency. Herein, a nanoscale 2D metal–organic framework, Sm-H₂TCPP nanosheets, was first synthesized by Sm³⁺-driven coordination with a porphyrin derivative (tetrakis(4-carboxyphenyl)porphyrin (H₂TCPP)) for highly effective PDT of breast cancer. The prepared Sm-H₂TCPP possessed nanoplate morphology with ultrathin thickness at the sub-10 nm level and an ultrasmall plane size at the sub-100 nm level. Compared with free H₂TCPP, the prominent ROS generation capacity of the well-defined Sm-H₂TCPP nanosheets is mainly attributed to their improved physicochemical properties and the enhanced intersystem crossing caused by heavy Sm nodes. The significantly improved PDT efficacy of the Sm-H₂TCPP nanosheets was further investigated in vitro and in vivo based on the MCF-7 breast cancer model. It is envisaged that the Sm-H₂TCPP nanosheets will offer a new avenue for the development of a new class of potential PDT agents.