Oxygen self-enriched nanoplatform combined with US imaging and chemo/photothermal therapy for breast cancer.

Oxygen-saturated perfluorohexane-cored, cisplatin (Pt)-decorated hollow gold nanospheres (Pt-HAuNS-PFH@O2) have been synthesized for ultrasound (US) imaging-guided tumor treatment depending on chemo/photothermal therapy, relief of hypoxia, and photothermal induced US contrast signal. Both NIR laser-induced hyperthermia generation by gold nanospheres and acidity triggered release of Pt resulted in high toxicity after internalization by breast cancer cells. According to ex vivo immunofluorescence investigation and in vivo pharmacodynamic studies on MDA-MB-231 tumor bearing mice, the susceptibility of tumors to Pt-HAuNS-PFH@O2 was improved by the relief of hypoxia. In addition, US imaging under different conditions verified the amplified US contrast property of Pt-HAuNS-PFH@O2 by the heat-dependent liquid–gas conversion of PFH. Overall, Pt-HAuNS-PFH@O2 can be promisingly used as an oxygen self-enriched nanoplatform for US imaging-guided chemo/photothermal therapy.