Phototheranostics
is a potential area for precision medicine, which
has received increasing attention for antibacterial applications.
Integrating all phototheranostic modalities in a single molecule and
achieving precise spatial colocalization is a challenging task because
of the complexity of energy dissipation and molecular design. Here,
a type of quaternary amine functionalized aggregation-induced emission
(AIE), AIEgen, was synthesized and used to produce singlet oxygen
(1O2) and heat, which were used to eradicate
the bacteria. With the introduction of the positive charge in AIEgen,
AIE nanoparticles (AIE NPs) could selectively target bacteria. Notably,
the AIE NPs displayed obvious antibacterial performance against Gram-positive
bacteria (Staphylococcus aureus) and Gram-negative
bacteria (Escherichia coli). The antibacterial rates
of AIE NPs were as high as 99.9% and 99.8% for S. aureus and E. coli, respectively. Therefore, our results
suggested the potential of AIE NPs acting as broad-spectrum antimicrobial
materials, which provided a strategy for treating different microorganisms.
Compared to other tumors, glioblastoma (GBM) is extremely difficult to treat. Recently, photothermal therapy (PTT) has demonstrated advanced therapeutic efficacy; however, because of the relatively low tissue‐penetration efficiency of laser light, its application in deep‐seated tumors remains challenging. Herein, bradykinin (BK) aggregation‐induced‐emission nanoparticles (BK@AIE NPs) are synthesized; these offer selective penetration through the blood–tumor barrier (BTB) and strong absorbance in the near‐infrared region (NIR). The BK ligand can prompt BTB adenosine receptor activation, which enhances transportation and accumulation inside tumors, as confirmed by T1‐weighted magnetic resonance and fluorescence imaging. The BK@AIE NPs exhibit high photothermal conversion efficiency under 980 nm NIR laser irradiation, facilitating the treatment of deep‐seated tumors. Tumor progression can be effectively inhibited to extend the survival span of mice after spatiotemporal PTT. NIR irradiation can eradicate tumor tissues and release tumor‐associated antigens. It is observed that the PTT treatment of GBM‐bearing mice activates natural killer cells, CD3+ T cells, CD8+ T cells, and M1 macrophages in the GBM area, increasing the therapeutic efficacy. This study demonstrates that NIR‐assisted BK@AIE NPs represent a promising strategy for the improved systematic elimination of GBMs and the activation of local brain immune privilege.
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