NIR Absorbing Organic Chromophores Combination with NSAIDs for Remodeling of the Inflammatory Microenvironment to Amplify Tumor Ferroptosis‐Photothermal Synergistic Therapy

Abstract

AbstractPhotothermal therapy has emerged as a promising approach for cancer treatment, which can cause ferroptosis to enhance immunotherapeutic efficacy. However, excessively generated immunogenicity will induce serious inflammatory response syndrome, resulting in a discounted therapeutic effect. Herein, a kind of NIR absorption small organic chromophore nanoparticles (TTHM NPs) with high photothermal conversion efficiency (68.33%) is developed, which can induce mitochondria dysfunction, generate mitochondrial superoxide, and following ferroptosis. TTHM NPs‐based photothermal therapy is combined with Sulfasalazine (SUZ), a kind of nonsteroidal anti‐inflammatory drugs, to weaken inflammation and promote ferroptosis through suppressing glutamate/cystine (Glu/Cys) antiporter system Xc− (xCT). Additionally, the combination of SUZ with PTT can induce immunogenic cell death (ICD), followed by promoting the maturation of DCs and the attraction of CD8+ T cell, which will secrete IFN‐γ and trigger self‐amplified ferroptosis via inhibiting xCT and simulating Acyl‐CoA synthetase long‐chain family member 4 (ACSL4). Moreover, the in vivo results demonstrate that this combination therapy can suppress the expression of inflammatory factors, enhance dendritic cell activation, facilitate T‐cell infiltration, and realize effective thermal elimination of primary tumors and distant tumors. In general, this work provides an excellent example of combined medication and stimulates new thinking about onco‐therapy and inflammatory response.