Multifunctional Ferritin Nanoparticles as Theranostics for Imaging-Guided Tumor Phototherapy.

The pH-response reassemble ability of the ferritin nanocage (Fn) presents the unique and facile Fn-based drug delivery systems, which enable the drug loaded into the cage of TFn. In this study, we constructed a targeting CGKRK peptides modified Fn (TFn) by genetic engineering. The TFn possessed the targeting effect of the peptide CGKRK, and could efficiently target to the tumor angiogenic blood vessels and tumor cells. In addition, the TFn could be applied in drug delivery system due to its pH-dependent depolymerization and self-assembly properties. A new type metalla-aromatics complex of NIR-absorbing organic agent named as "556-Ph" was loaded into the TFn. The developed TFn@556-Ph acted as theranostic nanoparticles for precise tumor localization via active targeting and simultaneously superior imaging-guided photothermal and photodynamic synergistic therapy.