Oxygen-independent Free Radicals Induced by Photothermal Effect of Fe3O4 for Hypoxic Cancer Therapy

Cancer treatments based on reactive oxygen species (ROS) have emerged as effective clinical methods. However, the generation of ROS is significantly suppressed owing to the hypoxic tumor microenvironment. ROS generated in an oxygen-independent manner provides a novel strategy for cancer therapy. Here, we use an initiator as therapeutic drug to realize light controlled generation of free radicals. The initiator was loaded onto Fe3O4 nanoparticles. Upon the irradiation of near infrared light, the temperature of the nanoparticles increased, inducing the decomposition of the initiator to produce alkyl radicals. This therapeutic system showed remarkable damage to cells in hypoxic environment.