Although nanomedicine has emerged as a prudent ploy in cancer treatment, quite a few obstacles and limitations should be conquered for nano-agents still, such as selective tumor targeting, therapeutics for metastasis and bio-compatibility. 

Prof. YU Xuefeng at the Shenzhen Institutes of Advanced Technology (SIAT) of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) and Prof. LIU Sijin at Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences of CAS developed a BP/DTX@PLGA nanocomplex for addressing these challenges.  

In this study, BP/DTX@PLGA nanocomposite, i.e. black phosphorus quantum dots (BPQDs) loaded into poly (lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) with additional conjugation of chemotherapeutic agent docetaxel (DTX), strikingly showed pronounced tropism to target both primary tumors and lung metastatic tumors, through which chemo-photothermal combinatory therapeutics was triggered to synergistically eliminate metastatic tumors in the lung by near-infrared (NIR) laser radiation.  

These findings unearthed the BP-based controllable synergistic effects between photothermal toxicity and chemo-toxicity for precision targeting at lung metastatic tumors. And this work would open a new avenue to look for easy and safe therapeutics in the treatment of metastases. 

The team has been working on synthesis and applications of BP-based nanomaterials for years. In particular, achievements have been obtained in biomedical, catalysis and electronic device applications. The current study published in Nano Letters is another key milestone in their systematic work.  

BP/DTX@PLGA against primary tumors and lung metastases. (Image by Prof. YU)