Multifunctional DNAzyme-Anchored Metal-Organic Framework for Efficient Suppression of Tumor Metastasis

High mortality and rapid development of metastasis requires the development of more effective antimetastasis strategies. However, conventional therapeutic methods, including surgery, radiation therapy, and chemotherapy, show less effectiveness in curbing the metastatic spread of cancer cells and the formation of metastases. A therapeutic platform, targeting the early stage of metastasis cascade, could effectively prevent metastasis dissemination. Herein, Fe/Mn-based metal-organic frameworks (FMM) were constructed for the delivery of a specific DNAzyme with high catalytic cleavage activity on the metastasis-involved Twist mRNA, thus efficiently inhibiting the invasion of cancer cells through DNAzyme-catalyzed gene silencing. Highly potent combined gene/chemodynamic therapy is achieved from the self-supplied DNAzyme cofactors and efficient glutathione depletion. Importantly, by virtue of the intrinsic photo-to-thermal conversion of the FMM nanocarriers, our combined therapeutic strategy could be further promoted under photothermal stimuli to speed up the Fenton reaction and to accelerate the release of the Twist DNAzyme with efficient gene therapy. Consequently, the effective elimination of tumors and the blockage of metastasis are simultaneously achieved under photothermal/magnetic resonance imaging guidance. This work aims at developing versatile theranostic agents to combat metastatic tumors.