CuWO4 Nanodots for NIR-Induced Photodynamic and Chemodynamic Synergistic Therapy.

Dynamic therapy, such as photodynamic therapy (PDT) or chemodynamic therapy (CDT), is one of the most promising therapeutic strategies for tumors. Integrating the advantages of near-infrared-induced PDT and CDT can potentially improve the therapeutic performance. A single primitive nanostructure, CuWO4 nanodots, was developed. It could generate reactive oxygen species under 808 nm light irradiation and release copper ions into the acid tumor microenvironment, thereby boosting Fenton-like reactions. The PDT and CDT would occur when the nanodots were introduced into the tumor tissue and irradiated under 808 nm light. The results of combined PDT and CDT antitumor studies showed the effective inhibition of tumor tissue growth, thereby suggesting that the nanodots are candidate agents for synergistic antitumor applications.