Re(I)‐Based Molecular Actuator‐Equipped Nanomotors for Integrated Photodynamic and Photomechanical Therapy of Solid Tumor

The dense stromal barrier of solid tumors severely hinders intratumoral distribution and therapeutic performance of conventional nanomedicines, and such limitation further compromises oxygen-dependent photodynamic therapy. Herein, through molecular engineering, we develop a Janus nanomotor (Re1@NMs) that integrates a three-dimensional rhenium(I)-based molecular actuator (Re1) with glucose oxidase (GOx)-powered propulsion. Owing to the Janus structure, asymmetric GOx-catalyzed glucose consumption generates local chemical gradients that fuel autonomous motility, thereby enhancing intratumoral distribution. Upon light activation, the engineered Re1, screened from six Re(I) complexes, functions both as a dual Type I/II photosensitizer generating reactive oxygen species (ROS) to induce oxidative stress and as a molecular actuator whose Y-axis motif undergoes E/Z photoisomerization and torsional deformation, thereby contributing to membrane permeabilization. The resulting integrated mechano-photodynamic action coordinately activates ferroptosis and pyroptosis. In a murine tumor model, Re1@NMs-mediated phototherapy achieves superior tumor suppression with excellent biosafety and further elicits robust antitumor immunity, as evidenced by enhanced dendritic cell maturation, increased tumor-infiltrating T cells, elevated effector cytokine expression, and damage-associated molecular pattern release. To the best of our knowledge, this work represents the first integration of a deliberately engineered metal-complex-based three-dimensional molecular actuator with a tumor-microenvironment-adaptive nanomotor, establishing a new paradigm for overcoming tumor barriers.

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Publication Details

Journal
Advanced Materials
Published
2026-11-01
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1002/adma.75590
Primary Topic
Nanoplatforms for cancer theranostics
Type
article
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article

Re(I)‐Based Molecular Actuator‐Equipped Nanomotors for Integrated Photodynamic and Photomechanical Therapy of Solid Tumor

Cai‐Ping Tan, Qing‐Hua Shen, Y.-Y. Han, Long‐Bo Yu et al.
Advanced Materials
Nanoplatforms for cancer theranostics
article

Re(I)‐Based Molecular Actuator‐Equipped Nanomotors for Integrated Photodynamic and Photomechanical Therapy of Solid Tumor

Cai‐Ping Tan, Qing‐Hua Shen, Y.-Y. Han, Long‐Bo Yu, Peng Wang, Shuo‐Ting Huang, Zhi‐Yuan Li, Xiao‐Tong Yang
article en

Abstract

The dense stromal barrier of solid tumors severely hinders intratumoral distribution and therapeutic performance of conventional nanomedicines, and such limitation further compromises oxygen-dependent photodynamic therapy. Herein, through molecular engineering, we develop a Janus nanomotor (Re1@NMs) that integrates a three-dimensional rhenium(I)-based molecular actuator (Re1) with glucose oxidase (GOx)-powered propulsion. Owing to the Janus structure, asymmetric GOx-catalyzed glucose consumption generates local chemical gradients that fuel autonomous motility, thereby enhancing intratumoral distribution. Upon light activation, the engineered Re1, screened from six Re(I) complexes, functions both as a dual Type I/II photosensitizer generating reactive oxygen species (ROS) to induce oxidative stress and as a molecular actuator whose Y-axis motif undergoes E/Z photoisomerization and torsional deformation, thereby contributing to membrane permeabilization. The resulting integrated mechano-photodynamic action coordinately activates ferroptosis and pyroptosis. In a murine tumor model, Re1@NMs-mediated phototherapy achieves superior tumor suppression with excellent biosafety and further elicits robust antitumor immunity, as evidenced by enhanced dendritic cell maturation, increased tumor-infiltrating T cells, elevated effector cytokine expression, and damage-associated molecular pattern release. To the best of our knowledge, this work represents the first integration of a deliberately engineered metal-complex-based three-dimensional molecular actuator with a tumor-microenvironment-adaptive nanomotor, establishing a new paradigm for overcoming tumor barriers.

Advanced Materials
Sun Yat-sen University (CN)
Openalex Percentile: Top 24%
Nanoplatforms for cancer theranostics
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