2. Academic Validation
  3. X-ray preactivated reversible persistent luminescence enables photodynamic immunotherapy of deep tumors

X-ray preactivated reversible persistent luminescence enables photodynamic immunotherapy of deep tumors

  • Nat Commun. 2026 Mar 21;17(1):4297. doi: 10.1038/s41467-026-71028-4.
Win Topatana # 1 2,  Yuchao Sun # 1,  Tianao Xie # 1,  Yiyuan Zhu # 3,  Taorui Yang 4,  Ruijing Shen 1,  Peng Ran 5,  Chengao Li 3,  Jiadong Chen 6,  Xuqiu Shen 1,  Ziyi Lu 1,  Yina Han 7 8,  Yukai Shan 1,  Shijie Li 1,  Tianen Chen 1,  Xiujun Cai 9 10,  Renren Deng 11,  Sarun Juengpanich 12 13,  Mingyu Chen 14 15
Affiliations

Affiliations

  • 1 Department of General Surgery, Sir Run-Run Shaw Hospital, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China.
  • 2 National Engineering Research Center of Innovation and Application of Minimally Invasive Instruments, Sir Run-Run Shaw Hospital, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China.
  • 3 State Key Laboratory of Silicon and Advanced Semiconductor Materials, Institute for Composites Science Innovation, School of Materials Science and Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China.
  • 4 College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China.
  • 5 State Key Laboratory of Modern Optical Instrumentation, College of Optical Science and Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China.
  • 6 Department of Chemistry, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China.
  • 7 Department of Pathology, Sir Run-Run Shaw Hospital, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China.
  • 8 Department of Pathology, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China.
  • 9 Department of General Surgery, Sir Run-Run Shaw Hospital, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China. [email protected].
  • 10 National Engineering Research Center of Innovation and Application of Minimally Invasive Instruments, Sir Run-Run Shaw Hospital, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China. [email protected].
  • 11 State Key Laboratory of Silicon and Advanced Semiconductor Materials, Institute for Composites Science Innovation, School of Materials Science and Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China. [email protected].
  • 12 Department of General Surgery, Sir Run-Run Shaw Hospital, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China. [email protected].
  • 13 National Engineering Research Center of Innovation and Application of Minimally Invasive Instruments, Sir Run-Run Shaw Hospital, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China. [email protected].
  • 14 Department of General Surgery, Sir Run-Run Shaw Hospital, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China. [email protected].
  • 15 National Engineering Research Center of Innovation and Application of Minimally Invasive Instruments, Sir Run-Run Shaw Hospital, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China. [email protected].
  • # Contributed equally.
PMID: 41865031 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-026-71028-4
Abstract

Persistent luminescence is a promising approach for photodynamic therapy (PDT) in deep-seated tumors, as it provides sustained light within tissues, eliminating the need for continuous external illumination. However, the uncontrollability of light within the body complicates precise spatiotemporal regulation. In this study, we report X-ray preactivated elimusertib-loaded tumor-targeted photodynamic nanoparticles (ETPNs), featuring reversible "on-off" afterglow properties. The excellent afterglow properties of X-ray-activated porous NaYF4:Er@NaGdF4 persistent luminescence nanoparticles enable the continuous activation of chlorin e6 (Ce6) to generate Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS), leading to DNA damage. The integration of elimusertib potentiates ROS-induced DNA damage and activates the cGAS-STING pathway, thereby enhancing immuno-photodynamic therapeutic efficacy. All in vivo experiments were conducted using female mice. Our findings highlight the potential of ETPNs to advance the therapeutic landscape for deep-seated tumors, offering a robust and controllable platform for combined immuno-photodynamic therapy.

Figures
Products