Facile synthesis of degradable DOX/ICG co-loaded metal–organic frameworks for targeted drug release and thermoablation

Abstract Background Despite the increasing interest in combination therapy for treatment of cancer, controlled delivery different therapeutics with high body-clearance efficacy and cancer cell specificity remained a great challenge. In this study, novel codelivery system was synthesized through one-pot coordination-driven self-assembly 2-methylimidazole, zinc ion chemotherapeutic drug (doxorubicin, DOX), followed by surface decoration photothermal agent (indocyanine green, ICG). To improve targeting performance, folic acid-conjugated polyethylene glycol (FA-PEG) antennas connected on nanoparticles. Results The hybrid nanoparticles keep stable under neutral physiological condition but decompose when exposed to acidic environment, resulting on-demand release DOX ICG chemo-photothermal combined therapy. Moreover, switching initial large size (~ 94 nm) an ultrasmall (∼10 cells, hold potential avoid nanotoxicity clinical applications. Conclusions This work provides new strategy co-delivery low nanotoxicity.