Self-assembled organic nanomedicine enables ultrastable photo-to-heat converting theranostics in the second near-infrared biowindow

Huijing Xiang,Lingzhi Zhao,Luodan Yu,Yanli Zhao,Hongzhong Chen,Yu Chen,Chenyang Wei

doi:10.1038/s41467-020-20566-6

Abstract

Development of organic theranostic agents that are active in the second near-infrared (NIR-II, 1000–1700 nm) biowindow is of vital significance for treating deep-seated tumors. However, studies on organic NIR-II absorbing agents for photo-to-heat energy-converting theranostics are still rare simply because of tedious synthetic routes to construct extended π systems in the NIR-II region. Herein, we design a convenient strategy to engineer highly stable organic NIR-II absorbing theranostic nanoparticles (Nano-BFF) for effective phototheranostic applications via co-assembling first NIR (NIR-I, 650–1000 nm) absorbing boron difluoride formazanate (BFF) dye with a biocompatible polymer, endowing the Nano-BFF with remarkable theranostic performance in the NIR-II region. In vitro and in vivo investigations validate that Nano-BFF can serve as an efficient theranostic agent to achieve photoacoustic imaging guided deep-tissue photonic hyperthermia in the NIR-II biowindow, achieving dramatic inhibition toward orthotopic hepatocellular carcinoma. This work thus provides an insight into the exploration of versatile organic NIR-II absorbing nanoparticles toward future practical applications.

Highlights

Development of organic theranostic agents that are active in the second near-infrared (NIR-II, 1000–1700 nm) biowindow is of vital significance for treating deep-seated tumors
It is noteworthy that the Nano-boron difluoride formazanate (BFF) could be used as a superior organic photoabsorbing agent to implement in vivo PA imaging-guided deep-tissue photonic hyperthermia in the NIR-II biowindow, achieving significant tumor elimination in an orthotopic hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) model
The readily accessible NIR-I-photoabsorbing BFF complex was adopted as an ideal dye for constructing NIR-II-absorbing nanomedicine, owing to its simple and low-cost synthetic routes as well as attractive characteristics such as unique spectroscopic properties, high absorption coefficient, and intrinsic chemical and photochemical stability

Summary

Introduction

Development of organic theranostic agents that are active in the second near-infrared (NIR-II, 1000–1700 nm) biowindow is of vital significance for treating deep-seated tumors. In vitro and in vivo investigations validate that Nano-BFF can serve as an efficient theranostic agent to achieve photoacoustic imaging guided deep-tissue photonic hyperthermia in the NIR-II biowindow, achieving dramatic inhibition toward orthotopic hepatocellular carcinoma. Rational modulation of supramolecular architectures provides significant insights into the construction of dye aggregates with pronounced bathochromic shifts into the NIR-II spectral domain distinct from the absorption of corresponding monomers in the NIR-I region. NIR-II absorbing organic nanoparticles (Nano-BFF) were developed by self-assembling an ultrastable NIR-Iphotoabsorbing boron difluoride formazanate (BFF) dye with an amphiphilic polymer, which could serve as a highly efficient phototheranostic agent in the NIR-II biowindow. It is noteworthy that the Nano-BFF could be used as a superior organic photoabsorbing agent to implement in vivo PA imaging-guided deep-tissue photonic hyperthermia in the NIR-II biowindow, achieving significant tumor elimination in an orthotopic hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) model

Methods

Results

Conclusion