Nanomicelle hitchhiking neutrophils synergistically light-controlled CO release system for postoperative pancreatic cancer treatment

Pancreatic cancer is a highly fatal malignancy with poor prognosis due to chemoresistance. Postoperative adjuvant chemotherapy remains the main treatment, but its efficacy is limited. Gas therapy, particularly using carbon monoxide (CO), has emerged as a promising strategy. CO can damage mitochondrial metabolism, induce apoptosis, and sensitize chemotherapy. We developed a CO-releasing device based on NFC sensing to convert endogenous CO₂ into CO. Additionally, we encapsulated doxorubicin in liposomes modified with a neutrophil elastase-targeting peptide, enabling them to hitchhike neutrophils to the tumor site. The combined in situ neutrophil hitchhiker delivery and CO gas therapy effectively inhibits pancreatic cancer recurrence and metastasis post-surgery.