Synergistic phototherapy using chitosan-enhanced antimonene nanosheets for effective cancer treatment

Photothermal therapy (PTT), as a non-invasive and selective treatment strategy, has garnered extensive research interest. Photothermal agents (PTAs) are critical components of PTT, whose light-absorbing and thermosensitive properties enable effective conversion of light energy into heat, creating localized high-temperature regions. However, PTAs often face challenges with degradation in vivo, and standalone PTT is insufficient for complete tumor cell ablation. In this study, we successfully developed a biodegradable nanoplatform for synergistic photothermal-photodynamic therapy. This platform is based on degradable antimonene nanosheets, further functionalized with a chitosan coating, and loaded with the photosensitizer Ce6. In vitro experiments demonstrated that this nanoplatform exhibits excellent biocompatibility and biodegradability. Upon laser excitation, the platform induces localized thermal effects for cell ablation and promotes reactive oxygen species generation, leading to superior anti-tumor efficacy compared to monotherapies. These findings suggest that this multifunctional nanoplatform can significantly enhance the therapeutic efficiency of synergistic phototherapy, presenting a promising candidate for cancer treatment.