Biodegradable biocompatible MgO/Eu nanodrug with Acid-Base conversion capacity for targeted lung cancer therapy

Development of highly biocompatible biodegradable inorganic nanomaterials with targeted cancer therapy capacity is still a challenge. Herein, we report biodegradable porous magnesium oxide nanoparticles supporting europium atoms (MgO/Eu NPs) with proactive acid-base conversion ability for cancer therapy. MgO/Eu NPs could rapidly convert to alkaline nanosheet and biodegradation under acid tumor microenvironment, which enabled their significantly high lysosome uptake in lung cancer cell but not normal cells. The efficient uptake of NPs significantly activate the proapoptosis proteins, enhanced the generation of reactive oxygen species and mitochondria damage of cancer cells through inhibiting the lysosomal-autophagy process. MgO/Eu NPs are highly accumulated in tumor tissue, potently suppress tumor growth and biodegraded rapidly without adverse effects in vivo. This study demonstrates the first example in responsive cancer therapy based on biodegradable single inorganic nanomaterials through chemical structure conversion mechanism.