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The dense stromal barrier of solid tumors severely hinders intratumoral distribution and therapeutic performance of conventional nanomedicines, and such limitation further compromises oxygen-dependent photodynamic therapy. Herein, through molecular engineering, we develop a Janus nanomotor (Re1@NMs) that integrates a three-dimensional rhenium(I)-based molecular actuator (Re1) with glucose oxidase (GOx)-powered propulsion. Owing to the Janus structure, asymmetric GOx-catalyzed glucose consumption generates local chemical gradients that fuel autonomous motility, thereby enhancing intratumoral distribution. Upon light activation, the engineered Re1, screened from six Re(I) complexes, functions both as a dual Type I/II photosensitizer generating reactive oxygen species (ROS) to induce oxidative stress and as a molecular actuator whose Y-axis motif undergoes E/Z photoisomerization and torsional deformation, thereby contributing to membrane permeabilization. The resulting integrated mechano-photodynamic action coordinately activates ferroptosis and pyroptosis. In a murine tumor model, Re1@NMs-mediated phototherapy achieves superior tumor suppression with excellent biosafety and further elicits robust antitumor immunity, as evidenced by enhanced dendritic cell maturation, increased tumor-infiltrating T cells, elevated effector cytokine expression, and damage-associated molecular pattern release. To the best of our knowledge, this work represents the first integration of a deliberately engineered metal-complex-based three-dimensional molecular actuator with a tumor-microenvironment-adaptive nanomotor, establishing a new paradigm for overcoming tumor barriers.
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Shen et al. (2026) studied this question.
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