Combined Photothermal and Photodynamic Therapy for Cancer Treatment Using a Multifunctional Graphene Oxide

Graphene oxide (GO) is one of the most studied nanomaterials in many fields, including the biomedical field. Most of the nanomaterials developed for drug delivery and phototherapies are based on noncovalent approaches that lead to an unspecific release of physisorbed molecules in complex biological environments. Therefore, preparing covalently functionalized GO using straightforward and versatile methods is highly valuable. Phototherapies, including photothermal therapy (PTT) and photodynamic therapy (PDT), have shown great potential as effective therapeutic approaches against cancer. To overcome the limits of a single method, the combination of PTT and PDT can lead to a combined effect with a higher therapeutic efficiency. In this work, we prepare a folic acid (FA) and chlorin e6 (Ce6) double-functionalized GO for combined targeted PTT/PDT. This conjugate can penetrate rapidly into cancer cells and macrophages. A combined effect of PTT and PDT is observed, leading to a higher killing efficiency toward different types of cells involved in cancer and other diseases. Our work provides a simple protocol to prepare multifunctional platforms for the treatment of various diseases.