Lysosomal Drug Entrapment Enables Laser-induced Vapor Nanobubble Formation for Tumor Cell Ablation

Drug resistance limits the efficacy of chemotherapeutics, with mechanisms including efflux transporters and drug inactivation. Additionally, many anticancer drugs accumulate in lysosomes due to their hydrophobic weak base properties, thus preventing target engagement and contributing to the resistance phenotype. This study aims to exploit the lysosomal entrapment and optical properties of cationic amphiphilic compounds for photothermal therapy. More specifically, we aim to investigate the formation of intracellular vapor nanobubbles (VNBs) to induce mechanical ablation in 2D and 3D models.