Single Near‐Infrared Emissive Polymer Nanoparticles as Versatile Phototheranostics

Abstract

Attaining consistently high performance of diagnostic and therapeutic functions in one single nanoplatform is of great significance for nanomedicine. This study demonstrates the use of donor–acceptor (D–A) structured polymer (TBT) to develop a smart “all‐five‐in‐one” theranostic that conveniently integrates fluorescence/photoacoustic/thermal imaging and photodynamic/photothermal therapy into single nanoparticle. The prepared nanoparticles (TBTPNPs) exhibit near‐infrared emission, high water solubility, excellent light resistance, good pH stability, and negligible toxicity. Additionally, the TBTPNPs exhibit an excellent singlet oxygen (1O2) quantum yield (40%) and high photothermal conversion efficiency (37.1%) under single‐laser irradiation (635 nm). Apart from their two phototherapeutic modalities, fluorescence, photoacoustic signals, and thermal imaging in vivo can be simultaneously achieved because of their enhanced permeability and retention effects. This work demonstrates that the prepared TBTPNPs are “all‐five‐in‐one” phototheranostic agents that can exhibit properties to satisfy the “one‐fits‐all” requirement for future phototheranostic applications. Thus, the prepared TBTPNPs can provide fundamental insights into the development of PNP‐based nanoagents for cancer therapy.

Tuning Organelle Specificity and Photodynamic Therapy Efficiency by Molecular Function Design

“…To explain this, sodium azide (NaN3) as a 1 O2 quencher was added to the ABDA solution in the presence of TPAPy, TPANPF6 or TPAPyPF6 NPs. 32 The absorption change of ABDA with TPAPy and NaN3 (30 mg/mL) in water was negligible in the presence of white light irradiation.…”

The Role of Photochemical Reactions in the Development of Advanced Soft Materials for Biomedical Applications

“…At the same time, it allowed the combination of PDT, PTT and imaging methods to further improve treatment while enabling the tracking inside the body . In one recent example of this approach, nanoparticles composed of a semiconductive polymer based on thiophene‐benzodithiazole (TBT), which act as a sensitizer, were utilized . This polymer exhibited a good absorption of NIR light and can simultaneously display PDT and PTT techniques with decent yields.…”

Polymer Dots as Effective Phototheranostic Agents

“…(g) Time‐dependent tumor growth curves observed after different treatments. Reproduced with permission from ref . Copyright 2017 Wiley‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA.…”

“…Benzo[c] [1,2,5]thiadiazole (BT) unit, as strong electron-withdrawing unit (110), was coupled into the skeleton of the thiophene-based polymer to form polymer thiophene-benzo[c] [1,2,5]thiadiazole (polymer TBT) ( Fig. 17a) (111). In addition to possessing the previously reported merits of Pdots, including NIR emission (Fig.…”