Copper(II)-Graphitic Carbon Nitride Triggered Synergy: Improved ROS Generation and Reduced Glutathione Levels for Enhanced Photodynamic Therapy

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• 作者：Enguo Ju ; Kai Dong ; Zhaowei Chen ; Zhen Liu ; Chaoqun Liu ; Yanyan Huang ; Zhenzhen Wang ; Fang Pu ; Prof. Jinsong Ren and Prof. Xiaogang Qu
• 刊名：Angewandte Chemie International Edition
• 出版年：2016
• 出版时间：September 12, 2016
• 年：2016
• 卷：55
• 期：38
• 页码：11467-11471
• 全文大小：4377K
• ISSN：1521-3773

文摘

Graphitic carbon nitride (g-C₃N₄) has been used as photosensitizer to generate reactive oxygen species (ROS) for photodynamic therapy (PDT). However, its therapeutic efficiency was far from satisfactory. One of the major obstacles was the overexpression of glutathione (GSH) in cancer cells, which could diminish the amount of generated ROS before their arrival at the target site. Herein, we report that the integration of Cu²⁺ and g-C₃N₄ nanosheets (Cu²⁺–g-C₃N₄) led to enhanced light-triggered ROS generation as well as the depletion of intracellular GSH levels. Consequently, the ROS generated under light irradiation could be consumed less by reduced GSH, and efficiency was improved. Importantly, redox-active species Cu⁺–g-C₃N₄ could catalyze the reduction of molecular oxygen to the superoxide anion or hydrogen peroxide to the hydroxyl radical, both of which facilitated the generation of ROS. This synergy of improved ROS generation and GSH depletion could enhance the efficiency of PDT for cancer therapy.