Photodynamic therapy (PDT) kills cancer cells by converting tumour oxygen into reactive singlet oxygen (¹O₂) using a photosensitizer. However, pre-existing hypoxia in tumours and oxygen consumption during PDT can result in an inadequate oxygen supply, which in turn hampers photodynamic efficacy. Here to overcome this problem, we create oxygen self-enriching photodynamic therapy (Oxy-PDT) by loading a photosensitizer into perfluorocarbon nanodroplets. Because of the higher oxygen capacity and longer¹O₂lifetime of perfluorocarbon, the photodynamic effect of the loaded photosensitizer is significantly enhanced, as demonstrated by the accelerated generation of¹O₂and elevated cytotoxicity. Following direct injection into tumours,in vivostudies reveal tumour growth inhibition in the Oxy-PDT-treated mice. In addition, a single-dose intravenous injection of Oxy-PDT into tumour-bearing mice significantly inhibits tumour growth, whereas traditional PDT has no effect. Oxy-PDT may enable the enhancement of existing clinical PDT and future PDT design.

An oxygen-producing patch made from microalgae shows great potential to heal chronic wounds in diabetes.

Radiation therapy can potentially induce immunogenic cell death, thereby priming anti-tumor adaptive immune responses. However, radiation-induced systemic immune responses are very rare and insufficient to meet clinical needs. Here, we demonstrate a synergetic strategy for boosting radiation-induced immunogenic cell death by constructing gadolinium-hemin based nanoscale coordination polymers to simultaneously perform X-ray deposition and glutathione depletion. Subsequently, immunogenic cell death is induced by sensitized radiation to potentiate checkpoint blockade immunotherapies against primary and metastatic tumors. In conclusion, nanoscale coordination polymers-sensitized radiation therapy exhibits biocompatibility and therapeutic efficacy in preclinical cancer models, and has the potential for further application in cancer radio-immunotherapy.