Light-driven transformable optical agent with adaptive functions for boosting cancer surgery outcomes

Abstract

Fluorescence and photoacoustic imaging have different advantages in cancer diagnosis; however, combining effects in one agent normally requires a trade-off as the mechanisms interfere. Here, based on rational molecular design, we introduce a smart organic nanoparticle whose absorbed excitation energy can be photo-switched to the pathway of thermal deactivation for photoacoustic imaging, or to allow opposed routes for fluorescence imaging and photodynamic therapy. The molecule is made of a dithienylethene (DTE) core with two surrounding 2-(1-(4-(1,2,2-triphenylvinyl)phenyl)ethylidene)malononitrile (TPECM) units (DTE-TPECM). The photosensitive molecule changes from a ring-closed, for photoacoustic imaging, to a ring-opened state for fluorescence and photodynamic effects upon an external light trigger. The nanoparticles’ photoacoustic and fluorescence imaging properties demonstrate the advantage of the switch. The use of the nanoparticles improves the outcomes of in vivo cancer surgery using preoperative photoacoustic imaging and intraoperative fluorescent visualization/photodynamic therapy of residual tumours to ensure total tumour removal.

Surfactant‐Stripped Micelles of Near Infrared Dye and Paclitaxel for Photoacoustic Imaging Guided Photothermal‐Chemotherapy

“…Based on the Jablonski energy diagram, a chromophore dissipates the absorbed photons via the three following pathways: 1) fluorescence emission from the singlet excited state; 2) intersystem crossing to a triplet excited state to enable the generation of phosphorescence and/or reactive oxygen species (e.g., singlet oxygen); and 3) nonradiation in the form of thermal deactivation . Therefore, we carefully studied the fluorescence emission and photosensitizing capacities of aza‐BDTP and aza‐BDTP/PTX micelles as well as bare aza‐BDTP molecules, to elucidate the underlying reasons for such significantly enhanced photothermal conversion efficiency of aza‐BDTP molecule upon micellization.…”

Biomacromolecule‐Functionalized AIEgens for Advanced Biomedical Studies

“…In view of bioimaging of targeting cancer markers for cancer diagnosis, controllable real‐time treatment is developed by combining other therapeutic factors. In 2018, Ding and co‐workers had developed a function‐transformable self‐assembly AIEgen DTE‐TPECM, which could be used for fluorescence and photoacoustic (PA) imaging when functionalized by lipids. As is shown in Figure , DTE‐TPECM could achieve two switching forms (Rclosed‐DTE‐TPECM and Ropen‐DTE‐TPECM) by tuning visible light and UV light.…”

“…The composite structures of lipid‐PEG with the functionalized RClosed or Ropen DTE‐TPECM self‐assembly into DTE‐TPECM NPs and its principle for chemiluminescence and 1 O 2 generation under the H 2 O 2 in the internal environment; the imaging and treatment results of YSA modified NPs in the location of tumor. Adapted with permission . Copyright 2018, Springer Nature.…”

Identification and Single‐Cell Analysis of Viable Circulating Tumor Cells by a Mitochondrion‐Specific AIE Bioprobe

“…Further increasing the concentration of these probes may result in the aggregation‐caused quenching (ACQ) effect and nonspecific binding . In contrast, benefitting from the unique AIE property, higher working concentration (2 × 10 −6 m ) of TPN was used and the emission of TPN could be intensified along with the increased accumulation of dye in mitochondria of tumor cells. This could be important to its better selectivity to tumor cells.…”