Continuous irradiation during photodynamic therapy (PDT) inevitably induces tumor hypoxia, thereby weakening the PDT effect. In PDT-induced hypoxia, providing singlet oxygen from stored chemical energy may enhance the cell-killing effect and boost the therapeutic effect. Herein, we present a phototheranostic (DPPTPE@PEG-Py NPs) prepared by using a 2-pyridone-based diblock polymer (PEG-Py) to encapsulate a semiconducting, heavy-atom-free pyrrolopyrrolidone-tetraphenylethylene (DPPTPE) with high singlet-oxygen-generation ability both in dichloromethane and water. The PEG-Py can trap the 1 O2 generated from DPPTPE under laser irradiation and form a stable intermediate of endoperoxide, which can then release 1 O2 in the dark, hypoxic tumor microenvironment. Furthermore, fluorescence-imaging-guided phototherapy demonstrates that this phototheranostic could completely inhibit tumor growth with the help of laser irradiation.

A Phototheranostic Strategy to Continuously Deliver Singlet Oxygen in the Dark and Hypoxic Tumor Microenvironment

Simultaneous photothermal therapy (PTT) and photodynamic therapy (PDT) is beneficial for enhanced cancer therapy due to the synergistic effect. Conventional materials developed for synergistic PTT/PDT are generally multicomponent agents that need complicated preparation procedures and be activated by multiple laser sources. The emerging monocomponent diketopyrrolopyrrole (DPP)-based conjugated small molecular agents enable dual PTT/PDT under a single laser irradiation, but suffer from low singlet oxygen quantum yield, which severely restricts the therapeutic efficacy. Herein, we report acceptor-oriented molecular design of a donor–acceptor–donor (D–A–D) conjugated small molecule (IID-ThTPA)-based phototheranostic agent, with isoindigo (IID) as selective acceptor and triphenylamine (TPA) as donor. The strong D–A strength and narrow singlet–triplet energy gap endow IID-ThTPA nanoparticles (IID-ThTPA NPs) high mass extinction coefficient (18.2 L g−1 cm−1), competitive photothermal conversion efficiency (35.4%), and a dramatically enhanced singlet oxygen quantum yield (84.0%) comparing with previously reported monocomponent PTT/PDT agents. Such a high PTT/PDT performance of IID-ThTPA NPs achieved superior tumor cooperative eradicating capability in vitro and in vivo.

/pdf/molecular-design-of-conjugated-small-molecule-nanoparticles-2qu69paycd.pdf

Molecular Design of Conjugated Small Molecule Nanoparticles for Synergistically Enhanced PTT/PDT

High performance one-for-all phototheranostics: NIR-II fluorescence imaging guided mitochondria-targeting phototherapy with a single-dose injection and 808 nm laser irradiation.

Improving singlet oxygen (1 O2 ) lifespan by fractionated delivery in dark and hypoxic conditions is a better way to achieve enhanced phototherapeutic efficacy. Herein, three boron dipyrromethene (BODIPY) dyes are synthesized to demonstrate that anthracence-functionalized BODIPY, namely ABDPTPA is an efficient heavy-atom-free photosensitizer for the reversible capture and release of 1 O2 . The spin-orbit charge-transfer intersystem crossing of ABDPTPA promises a high 1 O2 quantum yield of 60% in dichloromethane. Under light irradiation, the anthracene group reacts with 1 O2 to produce endoperoxide. Interestingly, after termination of irradiation, the endoperoxide undergoes thermal cycloreversion to produce 1 O2 , and regenerates the anthracene module to achieve 1 O2 "afterglow," which results in a prolonged half lifetime of 1 O2 for 9.2 min. In vitro cytotoxicity assays indicate that ABDPTPA nanoparticles have a low half-maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50 ) of 3.6 µg mL-1 on U87MG cells. Further, the results of near-infrared-II fluorescence-imaging-guided phototherapy indicate that ABDPTPA nanoparticles can inhibit tumor proliferation even at a low dose (200 µg mL-1 , 100 µL) without any side effects. Therefore, the study provides a generalized 1 O2 "afterglow" strategy to enhance phototheranostics for complete tumor regression.

Singlet Oxygen "Afterglow" Therapy with NIR-II Fluorescent Molecules.

/pdf/phototherapy-meets-immunotherapy-a-win-win-strategy-to-fight-2717rkfxpp.pdf

Phototherapy meets immunotherapy: a win–win strategy to fight against cancer

Photodynamic and photothermal synergistic therapy are newly developed approaches for cancer treatment. The design and preparation of photosensitizers of high phototoxicity as well as low dark toxicity are of increasing significance in minimizing the side effects and maximizing the phototherapy efficacy of such treatments. In this study, a heavy atom-free copolymer NDNT was designed and synthesized by the Stille coupling reaction. This compound shows a high singlet oxygen quantum yield of 55.2%, guaranteeing an excellent phototherapy efficacy. The nanoparticles (NPs) of NDNT obtained by nanoprecipitation with DSPE-PEG-2000 with an average diameter of 65 nm exhibit considerably high phototoxicity towards human prostate cancer cells (Du145) because their half inhibitory concentration (IC50) is as low as 3.8 μg mL−1. Simultaneously, the dark toxicity of the NPs is almost negligible, even at a high concentration. Furthermore, an in vivo study with laser irradiation by photodynamic and photothermal synergistic therapy demonstrates that the NPs are capable of inhibiting a Du145 tumor growth, compared with the control and dark group, suggesting the low dark toxicity and high phototoxicity of such NPs. The H&E stained pictures of the normal tissues show that no obvious damage occurred, indicating the biosafety of the NDNT NPs. These results provide a strategy for designing heavy atom-free copolymers for phototherapy both in vitro and in vivo.

/pdf/heavy-atom-free-semiconducting-polymer-with-high-singlet-r71ytkaeq5.pdf

Heavy atom-free semiconducting polymer with high singlet oxygen quantum yield for prostate cancer synergistic phototherapy

In this paper, a heavy atom-free co-polymer (NDTT) with high singlet oxygen quantum yield (48.2%) has been designed and prepared. This polymer can be self-assembled to form uniform nanoparticles (NPs) in water. Such NPs still retain singlet oxygen generation ability with SOSG (singlet oxygen sensor green) as a probe and high photothermal conversion efficacy (35.2%). An in vitro MTT assay indicates that these NPs have a low half inhibitory concentration (IC50) of only 5.8 μg mL−1 on human prostate cancer (Du145). Moreover, in vivo investigation suggests that the growth of tumors of nude mice can be completely suppressed upon irradiation while those of the control and no illumination groups increase at a high speed, demonstrating the high phototoxicity as well as low dark toxicity of NDTT NPs. However, the normal organs, including the liver, lungs, spleen, heart and kidneys suffer from no damage, as indicated by the H&E stained pictures. Our results show that NDTT is a potential candidate for imaging guided photothermal and photodynamic synergistic therapy of prostate cancer clinically.

A heavy atom-free copolymer for light triggered photodynamic and photothermal therapy of human prostate cancer cells

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Heavy atom-free semiconducting polymer with high singlet oxygen quantum yield for prostate cancer synergistic phototherapy

A heavy atom-free copolymer for light triggered photodynamic and photothermal therapy of human prostate cancer cells