Nanoscale Donor–Acceptor Covalent Organic Frameworks for Mitochondria-Targeted Sonodynamic Therapy and Antitumor Immunity

  • Jing Liu
  • , Zhihao Zhao
  • , Chenghua Deng
  • , Richard Zanni
  • , Ralph R. Weichselbaum
  • , Wenbin Lin

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

Sonodynamic therapy (SDT) based on O2-dependent type II sonosensitizers (SSs) is limited by the hypoxic tumor microenvironment and aggregation-induced quenching (AIQ) of SSs. Type I SSs can generate reactive oxygen species (ROS) with reduced O2 dependence, but their efficacy is still constrained by the high electron–hole recombination rates and low ROS yields. Here, we report the synthesis of a novel two-dimensional nanoscale covalent organic framework (nCOF), Td-Pc, for mitochondria-targeted type I/II SDT. Td-Pc is constructed from staggered zinc-phthalocyanine tetra-anhydride (Pc) units and 4,4′-(thiazolo[5,4-d]thiazole-2,5-diyl)dianiline linkers, forming a donor–acceptor nCOF structure. This structural arrangement significantly alleviates the AIQ of Pc, enhances acoustic electron dissociation and transport, and promotes tumor accumulation. Consequently, Td-Pc enables efficient ROS generation throughout tumor tissues via both type I and II SDT mechanisms. The resulting mitochondrial oxidative stress induces immunogenic cancer cell pyroptosis and upregulates PD-L1 expression. When combined with an anti-PD-L1 monoclonal antibody, Td-Pc-mediated SDT elicits a robust antitumor immune response, leading to effective regression of orthotopic pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma and bilateral triple-negative breast cancer without causing side effects.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)25622-25634
Number of pages13
JournalJournal of the American Chemical Society
Volume147
Issue number29
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 23 Jul 2025
Externally publishedYes

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