Photothermal Properties Research Articles

Multifunctional Theranostic 2D Vanadium Carbidel for Enhanced Cancer Immunotherapy

AbstractThe application of 2D MXene materials in the biomedical field has been widely explored. Apart from excellent photothermal properties, their role in modulating various immune cells and overcoming immune‐suppressive tumor microenvironments is waiting to be discovered. In this work, a novel multifunctional 2D vanadium carbide is constructed that degrades in situ in the tumor microenvironment. Various characterizations and first‐principles calculations indicated that V4C3 nanosheets exhibit excellent light absorption and photothermal conversion capabilities in the NIR‐II biological window. The photothermal and X‐ray absorption properties of V4C3 nanosheets enabled dual‐modal photoacoustic imaging/computerized tomography (PA/CT) imaging functionality. The V4C3 nanosheets in the tumor microenvironment decomposed under the effect of H2O2 and GSH, triggering a Fenton‐like reaction. The photothermal ablation and reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation capabilities enabled V4C3 nanosheets to convert cold tumors into hot ones (macrophage: M2→M1) and induce reactions like immunogenic cell death (ICD). Dendritic cell (DC) cells matured under the ICD stimulation, which promoted T cell activation, reduced Treg cells and thus effectively enhanced tumor immunotherapy. The multiple properties including imaging, photothermal, enzyme‐driven, and immune functions enable V4C3 nanosheets to ablate tumors effectively. This study provides an example for the research of the multifunctional exploration and application of MXene in biomedicine filed.

Preparation of Graphene Oxide/Polymer Hybrid Microcapsules via Photopolymerization for Double Self-Healing Anticorrosion Coatings.

In this work, graphene oxide (GO)/polymer hybrid microcapsule-loaded self-healing agents were prepared via the combination of the emulsion template method and photopolymerization technology. The incorporation of GO in the microcapsule shell not only improved the impermeability, mechanical property, and solvent resistance property of the microcapsules significantly but also endowed the microcapsules with photothermal conversion property. By incorporating GO/polymer hybrid microcapsules in water-borne epoxy resin, a novel kind of anticorrosion coating with a double self-healing property was successfully fabricated. When the coating was scratched, the linseed oil (LO) encapsulated in the microcapsules could fill the crack, and the photothermal conversion property of GO could promote the molecular chain movement of the damaged area under near-infrared (NIR) irradiation to realize the close of the crack. Based on the filling of LO and photothermal conversion-induced scratch narrowing, the "filling" and "close" double self-healing effect can be realized under temporal NIR irradiation, which could lead to the complete recovery of the scratched coating. The |Z|f=0.1Hz value of the damaged coating with GO/polymer microcapsules after double healing was comparable to that of the intact coating, which was about 4 orders of magnitude higher than that of the scratched blank coating and single self-healing coating. As to the neutral salt spray test, the scratched blank coating failed in protection after 100 h, while the healed composite coating did not show any corrosion after 300 h.

Photoresponsive Multirole Nanoweapon Camouflaged by Hybrid Cell Membrane Vesicles for Efficient Antibacterial Therapy of Pseudomonas aeruginosa-Infected Pneumonia and Wound.

Exploring effective antibacterial approaches for targeted treatment of pathogenic bacterial infections with reduced drug resistance is of great significance. Combinational treatment modality that leverages different therapeutic components can improve the overall effectiveness and minimize adverse effects, thus displaying considerable potential against bacterial infections. Herein, red blood cell membrane fuses with macrophage membrane to develop hybrid cell membrane shell, which further camouflages around drug-loaded liposome to fabricate biomimetic liposome (AB@LRM) for precise antibacterial therapy. Specifically, photoactive agent black phosphorus quantum dots (BPQDs) and classical antibiotics amikacin (AM) are loaded in AB@LRM to accurately target the inflammatory sites through the guidance of macrophage membrane and long residence capability of red blood cell membrane, eventually exerting efficacious antibacterial activities. Besides, due to the excellent photothermal and photodynamic properties, BPQDs act as an efficient antibacterial agent when exposed to near-infrared laser irradiation, dramatically increasing the sensitivity of bacteria to antibiotics. Consequently, the synergistic sterilizing effect produced by AB@LRM further restricts bacterial resistance. Upon laser irradiation, AB@LRM shows superior anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties in models of P. aeruginosa-infected pneumonia and wounds. Hence, this light-activatable antibacterial nanoplatform with good biocompatibility presents great potential to advance the clinical development in the treatment of bacterial infections.

Experimental study on concentrated light photothermal catalytic glycerol for hydrogen production using a novel linear concentrated light flow reactor

Developing a suitable scale-up photothermal reactor is important for the application of solar photothermal catalytic hydrogen(H2) production from biomass. Herein, Ru nanoparticles loaded on TiO2 were used as photocatalysts to catalyze hydrogen production from glycerol. A novel linear concentrated light flow reactor (LCLFR) was designed and installed. The effects of concentrated light intensity and thermal energy were investigated on the hydrogen production performance of LCLFR. The optical performance of the reactor was evaluated using Monte Carlo ray tracing method and experimentally validated. The spectral absorption and the photothermal conversion properties of Ru/TiO2 photocatalysts in the LCLFR were analyzed with different concentration light intensity. The results showed that both concentrated light and temperature could significantly enhance the hydrogen production performance of glycerol catalyzed by Ru/TiO2. Notably, the promotion of hydrogen production rates by concentrated light becomes stronger at elevated temperatures.

Photothermal-enhanced magnetic Cd0.9Zn0.1S/CoB Schottky heterojunction toward photocatalytic hydrogen evolution

The construction of heterojunctions effectively suppresses the undesired recombination of photogenerated charge carriers. This work presents the rational design and preparation of a novel Cd0.9Zn0.1S/CoB (CZS/CoB) Schottky heterojunction tailored for photothermal-assisted photocatalytic hydrogen evolution with the aid of the predictions of density functional theory (DFT). Under visible light irradiation, the hydrogen evolution rate of CZS/CoB reaches 2.56 times that of pure CZS, due to the formed Schottky heterojunction and photothermal properties, effectively inhibiting electron-hole recombination and boosting the photocatalytic reaction. Notably, with the help of the excellent magnetic properties of CoB, the as-synthesized CZS/CoB exhibits excellent magnetic separation property, which is crucial for practical application. The charge transfer pathways in the Schottky heterojunction were confirmed by experimental results and verified by DFT calculation results. This study presents a feasible strategy for the design and preparation of magnetic recyclable Schottky Heterojunction photocatalyst for photocatalytic hydrogen evolution.

Aluminium-copper-mesoporous silica molecular sieve-enabled dual-signal point-of-care aptasensor with integrated temperature and multicolor readout

Dual-signal point-of-care testing (POCT) method relying on multicolor changes have demonstrated a promising improvement in performance. In this work, we have developed a highly sensitive and rapid POCT method for detecting aflatoxin B1 (AFB1), utilizing a dual-signal readout mode based on temperature and multicolor changes. A synthetic enzyme mimics, Al-Cu-Santa Barbara Amorphous material (Al-Cu-SBA), has been used to enable the dual-signal changes of gold nanobipyramids (Au NBPs) for the first time. Specifically, the aptamer was immobilized on magnetic beads, facilitating hybridization with complementary strands functionalized with Al-Cu-SBA and hence forming double-stranded DNA. Upon introducing AFB1 into the system, it bound to the aptamer chain, resulting in the release of Al-Cu-SBA into solution. The liberated Al-Cu-SBA was subsequently collected and used to oxidize 3, 3′, 5, 5′-tetramethylbenzidine (TMB). The oxidized TMB was used to etch Au NBPs, inducing significant color changes. Meanwhile, by leveraging the photothermal properties of Au NBPs, we observed a temperature difference generated upon exposure to infrared laser irradiation. This method exhibited a linear range from 0.5 μg·mL−1 to 100 μg·mL−1, with a detection limit of 0.167 μg·mL−1. The method’s applicability was extended to successfully detect AFB1 in both peanut oil and milk samples. Given the application of enzyme mimics and the dual-signal readout integrating temperature and multicolor changes, our study successfully overcomes the limitations inherent in traditional biological enzyme-based methods and the conventional single-signal readout approach. Additionally, it surpasses the limitations associated with dual-signal readout systems that rely solely on monochromatic colorimetric analysis.

Nanocomposites of polyhydroxyurethane with Fe3O4 nanoparticles: Synthesis, shape memory and photothermal properties

AbstractThe nanocomposites of ferroferric oxide (Fe3O4) with polyhydroxyurethane (PHU) were fabricated via a physical mixing approach. This process involved grafting poly(N‐vinyl pyrrolidone) (PVPy) chains onto the surfaces of Fe3O4 nanoparticles via surface‐initiated living radical polymerization. The PVPy‐grafted Fe3O4 nanoparticles were directly incorporated into the precursors of PHUs [i.e., bis(cyclic carbonate) and a trifunctional amine] and the mixtures were cured at high temperatures to form organic–inorganic composites. This method ensured that Fe3O4 nanoparticles were finely dispersed within the PHU matrix through the strong intermolecular hydrogen bonding between PVPy and PHU. Compared to plain PHU network, the nanocomposites had enhanced thermomechanical properties, including higher glass transition temperatures (Tg's) and improved tensile mechanical properties. The inclusion of Fe3O4 nanoparticles also enhanced the shape memory properties of the PHU networks, improving shape recovery rates, fixity of transient shapes, and recovery of the original shapes. In addition, the nanocomposites demonstrated paramagnetic and photothermal properties and the photothermal behavior enabled a non‐contact control of shape recovery.Highlights Poly(N‐vinyl pyrrolidone)‐grafted Fe3O4 nanoparticles were synthesized. Nanocomposites of PHU with Fe3O4 were prepared via a physical blending approach. Incorporation of Fe3O4 resulted in improved thermomechanical properties. The nanocomposites had the photothermal properties.

Near-Infrared Responsive Nanocomposite Hydrogel Dressing with Anti-Inflammation and Pro-Angiogenesis for Wound Healing.

Anti-inflammatory and angiogenesis are two important factors in wound healing. Wound dressings with anti-inflammation and vascularization are essential to address complex interventions, expensive treatments, and uncontrolled release mechanisms. Based on the above considerations, we designed a near-infrared (NIR)-responsive hydrogel dressing, which is composed of mPDA-DFO@LA nanoparticles (mPDA: dopamine hydrochloride nanoparticles, DFO: deferoxamine, LA: lauric acid), valsartan (abbreviated as Va), and dopamine-hyaluronic acid hydrogel. The hydrogel dressing demonstrated injectability, bioadhesive, and photothermal properties. The results indicated the obtained dressing by releasing Va can appropriately regulate macrophage phenotype transformation from M1 to M2, resulting in an anti-inflammatory environment. In addition, DFO encapsulated by LA can be sustainably released into the wound site by NIR irradiation, which further prevents excessive neovascularization. Notably, the results in vivo indicated the mPDA-DFO@LA/Va hydrogel dressing significantly enhanced wound recovery, achieving a healing rate of up to 96% after 11 days of treatment. Therefore, this NIR-responsive hydrogel dressing with anti-inflammation, vascularization, and on-demand programmed drug release will be a promising wound dressing for wound infection.

Development of folate-conjugated polypyrrole nanoparticles incorporated with nitrogen-doped carbon quantum dots for targeted bioimaging and photothermal therapy

PPy nanoparticles are widely employed as PTT agents, because of their exceptional near-infrared absorption properties. Nonetheless, the efficacy of PTT with PPy nanoparticles is hindered by a challenge, specifically, a lack of precise targeting. In this study, a PTT imaging agent was developed by combining NCQDs having bright green fluorescent properties with PPy nanoparticles along with the masking of folic acid to overcome the challenge of targeting. The synthesized PPy:NCQDs:FA nanocomposite, characterized by extraordinary photothermal property, was utilized for imaging of folate receptor positive (FA+) MCF-7 cancer cells through the emission of green fluorescence by NCQDs incorporated within the nanocomposite. Additionally, these nanoparticles demonstrated a good level of cell viability, exceeding 82 %, even at a concentration of 600 μg mL−1. Even the in vivo toxicity inspection of the nanocomposite exemplified no observed acute toxicity at experimental dosages of 1 and 3 mg per kg body weight. By subjecting MCF-7 cells, inoculated with 100 μg mL−1 of nanocomposite, to NIR laser irradiation for 5 min, a significant decline in cell viability was witnessed, establishing the photothermal therapeutic potency of the nanocomposite. The death of cancer cells induced by nanocomposite was verified through MTT assay, imaging of cells by NCQDs alone, with nanocomposite, and by live/dead cell Calcein AM/PI staining assay. Quantification of induced apoptosis post-laser treatment is conducted through staining with Annexin V-FITC/PI. These findings establish potential use of PPy:NCQDs:FA nanocomposite as versatile theranostic agents, capable of targeted bioimaging and treatment for cancer cells exhibiting folate receptors.

Enhancing breast cancer treatment: mesoporous dopamine nanoparticles in synergy with chrysin for photothermal therapy.

Breast cancer is one of the most prevalent cancers, primarily affecting women. Among its subtypes, estrogen receptor-positive (ER+) breast cancer is particularly common. Inhibiting estrogen's effects is crucial for treating ER+ breast cancer, but current therapies often have significant side effects and limitations. Chrysin, a natural flavonoid, has shown potential in reducing estrogen receptor expression, but its poor water solubility hampers clinical application. This study explores the use of mesoporous dopamine nanoparticles (mPDA) to enhance the delivery and efficacy of Chrysin, combined with photothermal therapy (PTT), for breast cancer treatment. Chrysin-loaded mPDA nanoparticles (Chrysin@mPDA) were synthesized and characterized for their morphology, drug-loading efficiency, stability, and photothermal properties. Network pharmacology was used to predict Chrysin's mechanisms in breast cancer, which were validated through gene expression analysis in cell experiments. The therapeutic efficacy of Chrysin@mPDA with and without PTT was evaluated in a mouse model of breast cancer, with tumor volume and weight measured. Immunohistochemical analysis was conducted to assess estrogen receptor expression and immune cell infiltration in tumor tissues. Chrysin@mPDA nanoparticles demonstrated a high drug-loading capacity and excellent stability. Photothermal studies confirmed the nanoparticles' ability to generate heat upon laser exposure, significantly enhancing Chrysin release in acidic conditions with laser irradiation. Network pharmacology identified key target genes affected by Chrysin, including ESR1, BRCA1, CTNNB1, and BAX, which were validated through qPCR. In vivo, the combination of Chrysin@mPDA and PTT significantly reduced tumor volume and weight, decreased estrogen receptor-positive cells, and increased infiltration of CD3+CD4+ and CD3+CD8+ T cells in tumor tissues. The study highlights the potential of Chrysin-loaded mPDA nanoparticles combined with PTT as an effective strategy for breast cancer treatment. This approach addresses the limitations of Chrysin's solubility and enhances its therapeutic efficacy through synergistic mechanisms. The dual action of Chrysin in modulating gene expression and PTT in inducing localized hyperthermia and immune response suggests a promising avenue for improved breast cancer prognosis and reduced recurrence.

Magnetic bio-based Fe3O4@urushiol-Fe polymeric nanoparticles for efficient photothermal sterilization

Many advantages of photothermal sterilization make it very promising in the field of sterilization. Biomass micro-nanoparticles with photothermal properties are considered worthy of development as photothermal sterilization materials. Urushiol, the main component of natural sap from lacquer tree, was applied to react with green-vitriol by the adjusted the concentrations of ferrous ion through the chemical synthesis method to prepare a novel magnetic composite nanoparticle with Fe3O4 as the central core wrapped by urushiol-Fe chelate polymer. Under 808 nm near-infrared irradiation (0.12 W cm−2), the Fe3O4@urushiol-Fe polymeric nanoparticles were rapidly heated up to a maximum temperature of 104.9 ℃, implying good photothermal conversion performance. The nanoparticles were applied for the effective inactivation of bacteria such as Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus. The optimal dose and irradiation power for sterilization were 0.5 mg and 1 W cm−2, respectively. The composite nanoparticles exhibited good photothermal conversion stability even after multiple photothermal heating and photothermal sterilization. The biomass magnetic composite Fe3O4@urushiol-Fe polymer nanoparticles had the advantages of simple preparation, high efficiency of photothermal conversion, significant sterilization effect, and easy collection, which demonstrated a broad application prospect in the field of photothermal sterilization.

An optically responsive cancer vaccine for inducing robust anti-tumor immunity by apoptotic body carrying nanoadjuvants

A cancer vaccine based on nano-adjuvant fusion represents an effective strategy for anti-tumor immunity. Compared with other cancer vaccine formulations, the ones based on apoptotic bodies not only possess higher load-bearing capacity and biosafety, but also present greater clinical translational potential. In this study, we developed an optically responsive cancer vaccine that induced robust anti-tumor immunity by encapsulating genipin-crosslinked nano-adjuvants in tumor cell apoptotic bodies. The vaccine may potentially be used for prophylactic or therapeutic purposes. As an antigen source and a cargo vehicle, apoptotic bodies can co-deliver antigens and adjuvants simultaneously to antigen-presenting cells to activate T cells. Nano-adjuvants promote the targeted delivery of adjuvants for effective immune responses. Genipin-crosslinked nano-adjuvants enable visual tracking of the tumor vaccine. In addition, the photothermal properties of genipin-crosslinked nano-adjuvants promote lysosomal escape of tumor antigens to enhance cross-presentation. These characteristics enable visualization and controllability of cancer vaccines, thereby avoiding the need for exogenous photosensitive reagents. Apoptotic body-based vaccines can be used to prevent or treat tumors by triggering a strong systemic immune response by promoting T-cell infiltration and improving the tumor immune microenvironment.

Photothermal properties of Cu@polycarbonate composites with strong localized surface plasmon resonances

Photothermal properties of Cu@polycarbonate composites with strong localized surface plasmon resonances

Black bioceramic scaffolds with micro/nano surface structure inducing mild hyperthermal environment for regenerating osteochondral defects

The treatment of osteochondral defects remains a huge challenge in clinic. The thermotherapy in traditional Chinese medicine is widely used in treating joint disease because the mild heat stimulation can promote the nutrient circulation. Inspired by the function of thermotherapy, we design a new thermotherapy strategy by using black bioceramic scaffolds to build local mild hyperthermal environment for treating osteochondral defects. Herein, black akermanite (B-AKT) bioceramic scaffolds with micro/nano surface structure and excellent photothermal conversion property are successfully fabricated. The temperature of scaffolds can be precisely controlled by near infrared (NIR) irradiation to construct a mild hyperthermal environment (～41°C). The micro/nanostructure on the scaffolds surface well promoted the cell adhesion and nutrition absorption by activating integrins and focal adhesion kinase (FAK). Meanwhile, the mild hyperthermal environment constructed by B-AKT scaffolds can simultaneously induce the chondrogenesis and osteogenesis both in vitro and in vivo by activating the expression of cellular heat shock proteins (HSPs) and corresponding signaling pathways. Furthermore, in rabbit osteochondral defects, mild hyperthermal environment induced by B-AKT scaffolds exhibits stimulatory effects on the integrated regeneration of cartilage and bone. This study proposes a novel therapy strategy of constructing local mild hyperthermal environment by black bioceramic scaffolds to treat osteochondral defects and other joint diseases.

Multi-Enzyme Cascade Nanoreactors for High-Throughput Immunoassay: Transitioning Concept in Lab to Application in Community.

In this work, we reported a cholesterol oxidase (Chox)-loaded platinum (Pt) nanozyme with the collaborative cascade nanoreactor for the construction of nanozyme-enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (N-ELSA) models to realize high-throughput rapid evaluation of cancer markers. Considering the high specific surface area and manipulable surface sites, ZIF-8 was used as a substrate for natural enzyme and nanozyme loading. The constructed ZIF-8-Pt nanozyme platform exhibited efficient enzyme-like catalytic efficiency with a standard corrected activity of 60.59 U mg-1, which was 12 times higher than that of the ZIF-8 precursor, and highly efficient photothermal conversion efficiency (∼35.49%). In N-ELISA testing, developed multienzyme photothermal probes were immobilized in microplates based on antigen-antibody-specific reactions. Cholesterol was reacted in a cascade to reactive oxygen radicals, which attacked 3,3',5,5'-tetramethylbenzidine, causing it to oxidize and color change, thus exhibiting highly enhanced efficient photothermal properties. Systematic temperature evaluations were performed by a hand-held microelectromechanical system thermal imager under the excitation of an 808 nm surface light source to determine the cancer antigen 15-3 (CA15-3) profiles in the samples. Encouragingly, the temperature signal from the microwells increased with increasing CA15-3, with a linear range of 2 mU mL-1 to 100 U mL-1, considering it to be the sensor with the widest working range for visualization and portability available. This work provides new horizons for the development of efficient multienzyme portable colorimetric-photothermal platforms to help advance the community-based process of early cancer detection.

Continuous input DNA Nanomachine to program automated tumor diagnosis and treatment system

The diagnosis of a single disease marker can provide important information about the occurrence and progression of the disease, but a single marker may not be sufficient to identify a certain type of disease and lead to false-positive results. Molecular logic gates provide smart options for simultaneous detection of biomarkers. In order to diagnose early-stage cancer with high sensitivity and directly perform automated precision treatment on identified cancer cells. In this study, all identification and computation modules were integrated into a single structure to construct a Pd@Pt ONPs-DNA nanomachine logic gate nanodevice, which enables specific recognition of three overexpressed cancer cell biomarkers. When any of the biomarkers are overexpressed, the OR logic circuit outputs a fluorescent signal, indicating the occurrence of a positive event. At the same time, the resulting fluorescence signal is then fed directly into the AND logic gate, when the input is (1, 1, 1), a laser output of 808 nm is generated. The photothermal properties and nanozyme activity of Pd@Pt ONPs convert the 808 nm laser into cytotoxicity, using continuously connected OR and AND gates for early warning of cancer and automatic and precise treatment.

An Intramolecular Rotor-Bridged Dimeric Cyanine Photothermal Transducer for Efficient Near-Infrared II Fluorescence Imaging-Guided Mitochondria-Targeted Phototherapy.

Near-infrared (NIR) heptamethine cyanine (HCy) dyes are promising photothermal transducers for image-guided cancer treatment owing to their prominent photophysical properties and high photothermal conversion ability. However, HCy photothermal transducers usually have poor photostability due to degradation induced by the self-generated reactive oxygen species. Herein, a novel mitochondria-targeting dimeric HCy dye, named dimeric oBHCy, is rationally designed, exhibiting strong near-infrared II (NIR-II) fluorescence emission, high photothermal conversion efficiency (PCE), and excellent photostability. The large π-conjugation and drastic intramolecular motion of the diphenol rotor in the dimeric oBHCy enhance the nonradiative energy dissipation and suppress the intersystem crossing process, thereby achieving a high PCE (49.2%) and improved photostability. Impressively, dimeric oBHCy can precisely target mitochondria and induce mitochondrial damage upon NIR light irradiation. Under the guidance of in vivo NIR-II fluorescence imaging, efficient NIR light-activated photothermal therapy of 4T1 breast tumors is accomplished with a tumor inhibitory rate of 96% following a single injection of the dimeric oBHCy. This work offers an innovative strategy for designing cyanine photothermal transducers with integrated NIR-II fluorescence and photothermal properties for efficient cancer theranostics.

Photothermal conversion property studies of polyoxophosphitemolybdate derivatives through microwave-assisted synthesis

Photothermal conversion property studies of polyoxophosphitemolybdate derivatives through microwave-assisted synthesis

Mesoporous Graphene Oxide Nanocomposite Effective for Combined Chemo/Photo Therapy Against Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer.

Lung cancer is the most common cancer worldwide, among which non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) accounts for about 80% of all lung cancers. Chemotherapy, a mainstay modality for NSCLC, has demonstrated restricted effectiveness due to the emergence of chemo-resistance and systemic side effects. Studies have indicated that combining chemotherapy with phototherapy, such as photodynamic therapy (PDT) and photothermal therapy (PTT), can enhance efficacy of therapy. In this work, an aminated mesoporous graphene oxide (rPGO)-protoporphyrin IX (PPIX)-hyaluronic acid (HA)@Osimertinib (AZD) nanodrug delivery system (rPPH@AZD) was successfully developed for combined chemotherapy/phototherapy for NSCLC. A pH/hyaluronidase-responsive nanodrug delivery system (rPPH@AZD) was prepared using mesoporous graphene oxide. Its morphology, elemental composition, surface functional groups, optical properties, in vitro drug release ability, photothermal properties, reactive oxygen species production, cellular uptake and cell viability were evaluated. In addition, the in vivo therapeutic effect, biocompatibility, and imaging capabilities of rPPH@AZD were verified by a tumor-bearing mouse model. Aminated mesoporous graphene oxide (rPGO) plays a role as a drug delivery vehicle owing to its large specific surface area and ease of surface functionalization. rPGO exhibits excellent photothermal conversion properties under laser irradiation, while PPIX acts as a photosensitizer to generate singlet oxygen. AZD acts as a small molecule targeted drug in chemotherapy. In essence, rPPH@AZD shows excellent photothermal and fluorescence imaging effects in tumor-bearing mice. More importantly, in vitro and in vivo results indicate that rPPH@AZD can achieve hyaluronidase/pH dual response as well as combined chemotherapy/PTT/PDT anti-NSCLC treatment. The newly prepared rPPH@AZD can serve as a promising pH/hyaluronidase-responsive nanodrug delivery system that integrates photothermal/fluorescence imaging and chemo/photo combined therapy for efficient therapy against NSCLC.

Porphyrin-Based Organic Nanoparticles with NIR-IIa Fluorescence for Orthotopic Glioblastoma Theranostics.

The development of efficient theranostic nanoagents for the precise diagnosis and targeted therapy of glioblastoma (GBM) remains a big challenge. Herein, we designed and developed porphyrin-based organic nanoparticles (PNP NPs) with strong emission in the near-infrared IIa window (NIR-IIa) for orthotopic GBM theranostics. PNP NPs possess favorable photoacoustic and photothermal properties, high photostability, and low toxicity. After modification with the RGD peptide, the obtained PNPD NPs exhibited enhanced blood-brain barrier (BBB) penetration capability and GBM targeting ability. NIR-IIa imaging was employed to monitor the in vivo biodistribution and accumulation of the nanoparticles, revealing a significant enhancement in penetration depth and signal-to-noise ratio. Both in vitro and in vivo results demonstrated that PNPD NPs effectively inhibited the proliferation of tumor cells and induced negligible side effects in normal brain tissues. In general, the work presented a kind of brain-targeted porphyrin-based NPs with NIR-IIa fluorescence for orthotopic glioblastoma theranostics, showing promising prospects for clinical translation.