Dual‐Enhanced Sonodynamic Therapy: Synergizing Cavitation Amplification and Efficient Sonoluminescence‐to‐ROS Conversion for Orthotopic Breast Cancer Treatment

Z Zhourui Xu (National‐Regional Key Technology Engineering Laboratory for Medical Ultrasound Guangdong Key Laboratory for Biomedical Measurements and Ultrasound Imaging School of Biomedical Engineering Shenzhen University Medical School Shenzhen University Shenzhen Guangdong 518055 P. R. China) Y Yuying Zeng M Miaomiao Kang (Center for AIE Research Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of New Energy Materials Service Safety College of Materials Science and Engineering Shenzhen University Shenzhen 518060 P. R. China) Z Zhijun Zhang Z Zengming Yang (Center for AIE Research Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of New Energy Materials Service Safety College of Materials Science and Engineering Shenzhen University Shenzhen 518060 P. R. China) M Miaozhuang Fan (National‐Regional Key Technology Engineering Laboratory for Medical Ultrasound Guangdong Key Laboratory for Biomedical Measurements and Ultrasound Imaging School of Biomedical Engineering Shenzhen University Medical School Shenzhen University Shenzhen Guangdong 518055 P. R. China) Y Yingqi Zhong (National‐Regional Key Technology Engineering Laboratory for Medical Ultrasound Guangdong Key Laboratory for Biomedical Measurements and Ultrasound Imaging School of Biomedical Engineering Shenzhen University Medical School Shenzhen University Shenzhen Guangdong 518055 P. R. China) H Haomin Lin (National‐Regional Key Technology Engineering Laboratory for Medical Ultrasound Guangdong Key Laboratory for Biomedical Measurements and Ultrasound Imaging School of Biomedical Engineering Shenzhen University Medical School Shenzhen University Shenzhen Guangdong 518055 P. R. China) M Mian Chen (National‐Regional Key Technology Engineering Laboratory for Medical Ultrasound Guangdong Key Laboratory for Biomedical Measurements and Ultrasound Imaging School of Biomedical Engineering Shenzhen University Medical School Shenzhen University Shenzhen Guangdong 518055 P. R. China) X Xin Chen D Dong Wang G Gaixia Xu (National‐Regional Key Technology Engineering Laboratory for Medical Ultrasound Guangdong Key Laboratory for Biomedical Measurements and Ultrasound Imaging School of Biomedical Engineering Shenzhen University Medical School Shenzhen University Shenzhen Guangdong 518055 P. R. China) B Ben Zhong Tang (School of Science and Engineering, Guangdong Basic Research Center of Excellence for Aggregate Science, The Chinese University of Hong Kong (Shenzhen), Longgang, Shenzhen 518172, Guangdong, P. R. China)

Abstract

Abstract Sonodynamic therapy (SDT), as a promising noninvasive therapeutic modality with superior penetration depth, receives tremendous attention. To date, the widely accepted mechanism for reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation in SDT involves acoustic cavitation‐triggered sonoluminescence (SL), followed by the SL‐activation of sonosensitizers. However, current research on sonosensitizer development primarily focuses on promoting SL‐to‐ROS conversion, overlooking the essential role of the cavitation process. To fully unleash the potential of SDT, herein, a dual‐enhanced strategy that harnesses the enhanced cavitation for SL generation and efficient SL‐to‐ROS conversion is developed for the first time to realize an all‐around enhancement of SDT. Specifically, the proposed nano‐sonosensitizer, namely MeTTh‐PAE NPs, is released as hydrophobic aggregates with a rough surface in response to an acidic environment, allowing for highly enhanced cavitation‐triggered SL under ultrasound. Meanwhile, as a typical aggregation‐induced emission molecule, MeTTh demonstrates a highly promoted intersystem crossing process at its aggregated state, facilitating efficient SL‐to‐ROS conversion. Notably, combining these two fascinating attributes in MeTTh‐PAE NPs results in an excellent sonodynamic antitumor effect in both in vitro and in vivo. This work proposes a novel strategy to fully exploit the potential of SDT and provides valuable insights for advancing the design of nano‐sonosensitizers.

Article Details

Volume / Issue Vol. 38, Issue 8
Published February 01, 2026
ISSN 0935-9648
Publisher Unknown Publisher

Journal Info

Advanced Materials

Unknown Publisher

ISSN: 0935-9648 Physical Sciences

Authors (13)

Z

Zhourui Xu

National‐Regional Key Technology Engineering Laboratory for Medical Ultrasound Guangdong Key Laboratory for Biomedical Measurements and Ultrasound Imaging School of Biomedical Engineering Shenzhen University Medical School Shenzhen University Shenzhen Guangdong 518055 P. R. China

Y

Yuying Zeng

M

Miaomiao Kang

Center for AIE Research Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of New Energy Materials Service Safety College of Materials Science and Engineering Shenzhen University Shenzhen 518060 P. R. China

Z

Zhijun Zhang

Z

Zengming Yang

Center for AIE Research Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of New Energy Materials Service Safety College of Materials Science and Engineering Shenzhen University Shenzhen 518060 P. R. China

M

Miaozhuang Fan

National‐Regional Key Technology Engineering Laboratory for Medical Ultrasound Guangdong Key Laboratory for Biomedical Measurements and Ultrasound Imaging School of Biomedical Engineering Shenzhen University Medical School Shenzhen University Shenzhen Guangdong 518055 P. R. China

Y

Yingqi Zhong

National‐Regional Key Technology Engineering Laboratory for Medical Ultrasound Guangdong Key Laboratory for Biomedical Measurements and Ultrasound Imaging School of Biomedical Engineering Shenzhen University Medical School Shenzhen University Shenzhen Guangdong 518055 P. R. China

H

Haomin Lin

National‐Regional Key Technology Engineering Laboratory for Medical Ultrasound Guangdong Key Laboratory for Biomedical Measurements and Ultrasound Imaging School of Biomedical Engineering Shenzhen University Medical School Shenzhen University Shenzhen Guangdong 518055 P. R. China

M

Mian Chen

National‐Regional Key Technology Engineering Laboratory for Medical Ultrasound Guangdong Key Laboratory for Biomedical Measurements and Ultrasound Imaging School of Biomedical Engineering Shenzhen University Medical School Shenzhen University Shenzhen Guangdong 518055 P. R. China

X

Xin Chen

D

Dong Wang

G

Gaixia Xu

National‐Regional Key Technology Engineering Laboratory for Medical Ultrasound Guangdong Key Laboratory for Biomedical Measurements and Ultrasound Imaging School of Biomedical Engineering Shenzhen University Medical School Shenzhen University Shenzhen Guangdong 518055 P. R. China

B

Ben Zhong Tang

School of Science and Engineering, Guangdong Basic Research Center of Excellence for Aggregate Science, The Chinese University of Hong Kong (Shenzhen), Longgang, Shenzhen 518172, Guangdong, P. R. China