Ultra-homogeneous NIR-II fluorescent self-assembled nanoprobe with AIE properties for photothermal therapy of prostate cancer

• Published in: Nanoscale Vol. 13; no. 37; pp. 15569 - 15575
• Main Authors: Cui, Shengsheng, Fan, Shanshan, Tan, Haisong, Lu, Yi, Zha, Yiqian, Xu, Bin, Liu, Yanlei, Cui, Daxiang
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Cambridge Royal Society of Chemistry 01.10.2021
• Subjects: Cancer therapies; Extrusion; Fluorescence; Medical imaging; Near infrared radiation; Self-assembly; Tumors
• ISSN: 2040-3364; 2040-3372; 2040-3372
• DOI: 10.1039/d1nr04227k

Near-infrared two-zone (NIR-II) fluorescence imaging has attracted attention as a non-invasive imaging technology that provides centimeter-level depth and micron-level resolution. However, producing a NIR-II fluorescent nanoprobe with uniform size, high bio-identical capacity, and fluorescence intensity, while being metabolizable in vivo , remains a challenge. We first produce a hydrophobic NIR-II fluorescent molecule with AIE properties, and subject it to ultrasonic and extrusion treatments to generate a DSPE-PEG-encapsulated NIR-II nanoprobe with an ultra-homogeneous particle size. The current study based on in vitro and mouse tumor-bearing model-based experiments indicate that cancer cells could efficiently take up this nanoprobe, which aggregates in tumor tissues, is susceptible to metabolization, and enables ideal photothermal therapeutic effects. Thus, this NIR-II nanoprobe with AIE properties shows great potential for precise clinical diagnosis and treatment of cancer. Illustration of the procedure for preparation of an NIR-II nanoprobe and its application in photothermal treatment under the guidance of two-zone fluorescence imaging.