Designed porous MnO2 nanoflowers disrupting redox balance for oxygen-supplemented photodynamic therapy

The tumor microenvironment (TME) is crucial for tumor initiation and progression. Its unique redox status and hypoxia pose challenges yet are therapeutic entry points. Liver cancer has limited response to traditional treatments. This paper explores ICG/PFH@MnO₂@PLGA-PEI (IFMP) nanomaterial for liver cancer treatment under 808 nm laser. Porous MnO₂ nanoflowers are formed by redox of oleic acid (OA) and KMnO₄. ICG and perfluorohexane (PFH) are loaded by physical adsorption, and positively charged poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid)-polyethyleneimine (PLGA-PEI) is coated on MnO₂ surface via electrostatic attraction to get the nanosystem. MnO₂ nanoflowers disrupt TME redox balance, generate O₂ to ease hypoxia and boost ICG-based photodynamic therapy (PDT). PFH enables ultrasonic imaging. Under near-infrared light, the nanosystem has 59.61% photothermal conversion, enhancing reactions and cell apoptosis. The designed porous MnO₂ nanoflowers with enzyme-mimicking activities, combined with oxygen-enhanced PDT and photothermal therapy (PTT), disrupt TME redox for antitumor treatment, opening new ways in tumor therapy.