Spindle-like polypyrrole hollow nanocapsules as multifunctional platforms for highly effective chemo-photothermal combination therapy of cancer cells in vivo.

The monodispersed spindle-like polypyrrole hollow nanocapsules (PPy HNCs) as the multifunctional platforms for combining chemotherapy with photothermal therapy for cancer cells are reported. Whereas the hollow cavity of nanocapsules can be used to load the anticancer drug (i.e., doxorubicin) for chemotherapy, the PPy shells can convert NIR light into heat for photothermal therapy. The release of the drug from the spindle-like PPy HNCs is pH-sensitive and near-infrared (NIR) light-enhanced. More importantly, the spindle-like PPy HNCs can penetrate cells more rapidly and efficiently in comparison with the spherical PPy HNCs. Both in vitro and in vivo experiments demonstrated that the combination of DOX-loaded spindle-like PPy HNCs and NIR light provide a highly effective and feasible chemo-photothermal therapy cancer method with a synergistic effect. Owing to their high photothermal conversion efficiency, large hollow cavity, and good biocompatibility, the spindle-like PPy HNCs could be used as a promising new cancer drug-nanocarrier and photothermal agent for localized tumorous chemo-photothermal therapy.