FIGURE 1.

Schematic illustration of nucleus-targeting nanodrugs for enhancing PDT and PTT. According to the way nanodrugs targeting the nucleus, they are divided into two parts: passive nucleus-targeting nanodrugs (A) and active nucleus-targeting nanodrugs, which are further divided into molecularly modified active nucleus-targeting nanodrugs (B) and light-controlled active nucleus-targeting nanodrugs (C). In (A), nanodrugs that undergo size/hydrophilicity adjustment can passively penetrate the nucleus through NPCs after escaping from the endo/lysosome. In (B), after being modified with the nucleus-targeting groups, nanodrugs can be recognized and then transferred into the nucleus by importin α/β through NPCs. As for (C), ROS generated by nanodrugs under light irradiation will destroy a series of bio-membranes and facilitate the entry of nanodrugs into the nucleus. Nanodrugs accumulated in the nucleus generated a large amount of toxic ROS and local high temperature under light irradiation to destroy DNA and proteins in the nucleus and finally induce tumor cell death.