Iridium(III) complexes as novel theranostic small molecules for medical diagnostics, precise imaging at a single cell level and targeted anticancer therapy

Medical applications of iridium (III) complexes include their use as state-of-the-art theranostic agents - molecules that combine therapeutic and diagnostic functions into a single entity. These complexes offer a promising avenue in medical diagnostics, precision imaging at single-cell resolution and targeted anticancer therapy due to their unique properties. In this review we report a short summary of their application in medical diagnostics, imaging at single-cell level and targeted anticancer therapy. The exceptional photophysical properties of Iridium (III) complexes, including their brightness and photostability, make them excellent candidates for bioimaging. They can be used to image cellular processes and the microenvironment within single cells with unprecedented clarity, aiding in the understanding of disease mechanisms at the molecular level. Moreover the iridium (III) complexes can be designed to selectively target cancer cells,. Upon targeting, these complexes can act as photosensitizers for photodynamic therapy (PDT), generating reactive oxygen species (ROS) upon light activation to induce cell death. The integration of diagnostic and therapeutic capabilities in Iridium (III) complexes offers the potential for a holistic approach to cancer treatment, enabling not only the precise eradication of cancer cells but also the real-time monitoring of treatment efficacy and disease progression. This aligns with the goals of personalized medicine, offering hope for more effective and less invasive cancer treatment strategies.

Mitochondria-targeted ruthenium(II) complexes for photodynamic therapy and GSH detection in living cells

Photodynamic therapy is an emerging tumor therapy that kills tumor cells by activating reactive oxygen species (ROS) produced by photosensitizers. Mitochondria, as an important organelle, are the main generator of cellular ROS. Therefore, the development of photosensitizers capable of targeting mitochondria could significantly enhance the efficacy of photodynamic therapy. In this study, two novel ruthenium(II) complexes, Ru-1 and Ru-2, were designed and synthesized, both of which were functionalized with α,β-unsaturated ketones for sensing of glutathione (GSH). The crystal structures of the two complexes were determined and they exhibited good recognition of GSH by off-on luminescence signals. The complex Ru-2 containing aromatic naphthalene can enter the cells and react with GSH to generate a strong luminescence signal that can be used to monitor intracellular GSH levels through imaging. Ru-2 also has an excellent mitochondrial localization ability with a Pearson's coefficient of 0.95, which demonstrates that it can efficiently target the mitochondria of tumor cells to enhance the effectiveness of photodynamic therapy as a photosensitizer.

Switchover from singlet oxygen to superoxide radical through a photoinduced two-step sequential energy transfer process

The competitive nature of type II photosensitizers in the transfer of excitation energy for the generation of singlet oxygen (1O2) presents significant challenges in the design of type I photosensitizers to produce the superoxide anion radical (O2˙-). In this study, we present an efficient method for the direct transformation of type II photosensitizers into type I photosensitizers through the implementation of an artificial light-harvesting system (ALHSs) involving a two-step sequential energy transfer process. The designed supramolecular complex (DNPY-SBE-β-CD) not only has the ability to generate 1O2 as type II photosensitizers, but also demonstrates remarkable fluorescence properties in aqueous solution, which renders it an efficient energy donor for the development of type I photosensitizers ALHSs, thereby enabling the efficient generation of O2˙-. Meanwhile, to ascertain the capability and practicality of this method, two organic reactions were conducted, namely the photooxidation reaction of thioanisole and oxidative hydroxylation of arylboronic acids, both of which display a high level of efficiency and exhibit significant catalytic performance. This work provides an efficient method for turning type II photosensitizers into type I photosensitizers by a two-step sequential energy transfer procedure.

Molecularly Engineered Room-Temperature Phosphorescence for Biomedical Application: From the Visible toward Second Near-Infrared Window

Phosphorescence, characterized by luminescent lifetimes significantly longer than that of biological autofluorescence under ambient environment, is of great value for biomedical applications. Academic evidence of fluorescence imaging indicates that virtually all imaging metrics (sensitivity, resolution, and penetration depths) are improved when progressing into longer wavelength regions, especially the recently reported second near-infrared (NIR-II, 1000-1700 nm) window. Although the emission wavelength of probes does matter, it is not clear whether the guideline of "the longer the wavelength, the better the imaging effect" is still suitable for developing phosphorescent probes. For tissue-specific bioimaging, long-lived probes, even if they emit visible phosphorescence, enable accurate visualization of large deep tissues. For studies dealing with bioimaging of tiny biological architectures or dynamic physiopathological activities, the prerequisite is rigorous planning of long-wavelength phosphorescence, being aware of the cooperative contribution of long wavelengths and long lifetimes for improving the spatiotemporal resolution, penetration depth, and sensitivity of bioimaging. In this Review, emerging molecular engineering methods of room-temperature phosphorescence are discussed through the lens of photophysical mechanisms. We highlight the roles of phosphorescence with emission from visible to NIR-II windows toward bioapplications. To appreciate such advances, challenges and prospects in rapidly growing studies of room-temperature phosphorescence are described.

Host-Guest Interaction-Based Supramolecular Self-Assemblies for H2O2 Upregulation Augmented Chemiluminescence Resonance Energy Transfer-Induced Cancer Therapy

Given that light is hard to reach deep tumor tissue, how to enhance photodynamic therapy (PDT) efficacy is a big challenge. Herein, we proposed the supramolecular polymer self-assemblies (HACP) with bis[2,4,5-trichloro-6 (pentyloxycar-bonyl) phenyl] oxalate as the cargos (HACP@CPPO) to realize the chemiluminescence resonance energy transfer (CRET)-induced generation of 1O2 in situ. HACP was prepared by cinnamaldehyde-modified hyaluronic acid (HA-CA) and β-cyclodextrin-modified protoporphyrin IX (β-CD-PPIX) via host-guest interactions. The CA moiety could elevate H2O2 levels for the enhanced production of chemical energy and macrocyclic CD could enhance the stacking distance of PPIX for enhanced 1O2 yield. Thus, HACP@CPPO exhibited excellent antitumor performance without light irradiation.

Random versus Block Glycopolymers Bearing Betulin and Porphyrin for Enhanced Photodynamic Therapy

Porphyrins and their derivatives, representing the second-generation photosensitizers, can generate reactive oxygen species (ROS) and kill tumors upon light irradiation. To compensate for the fluorescence quenching and reduced ROS production caused by aggregation and rigid inherent hydrophobicity of porphyrins, a series of comparable random and block glycopolymers bearing betulin and porphyrin were prepared via RAFT polymerization. Betulin was introduced into the copolymers to decrease aggregation-induced quenching of porphyrins and to improve the photodynamic therapy (PDT) efficiency of copolymers. The characteristics, self-assembly, and photophysical chemistry properties of these copolymers were systemically studied. The effect of polymer structure on photophysical chemistry properties and cellular interaction was investigated as well to demonstrate their potential targeting for PDT applications.

Mesoporous silica nanoparticles incorporated with Ir(III) complexes: From photophysics to photodynamic therapy

Organically modified mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MSNs) containing Ir complexes (Ir1, Ir2 and Ir3) were successfully synthesized. These Ir-entrapped MCM41-COOH nanoparticles have shown relevant photophysical characteristics including high efficiency in the photoproduction and delivery of singlet oxygen (¹O₂), which is particularly promising for photodynamic therapy (PDT) applications. In vitro tests have evidenced that complex@MCM41-COOH are able to reduce cell proliferation after 10 min of blue-light irradiation in Hep-G2 liver cancer cells.

Polymeric Nanosystems Applied for Metal-Based Drugs and Photosensitizers Delivery: The State of the Art and Recent Advancements

Nanotechnology-based approaches for targeting the delivery and controlled release of metal-based therapeutic agents have revealed significant potential as tools for enhancing the therapeutic effect of metal-based agents and minimizing their systemic toxicities. In this context, a series of polymer-based nanosized systems designed to physically load or covalently conjugate metal-based therapeutic agents have been remarkably improving their bioavailability and anticancer efficacy. Initially, the polymeric nanocarriers were applied for platinum-based chemotherapeutic agents resulting in some nanoformulations currently in clinical tests and even in medical applications. At present, these nanoassemblies have been slowly expanding for nonplatinum-containing metal-based chemotherapeutic agents. Interestingly, for metal-based photosensitizers (PS) applied in photodynamic therapy (PDT), especially for cancer treatment, strategies employing polymeric nanocarriers have been investigated for almost 30 years. In this review, we address the polymeric nanocarrier-assisted metal-based therapeutics agent delivery systems with a specific focus on non-platinum systems; we explore some biological and physicochemical aspects of the polymer–metallodrug assembly. Finally, we summarize some recent advances in polymeric nanosystems coupled with metal-based compounds that present potential for successful clinical applications as chemotherapeutic or photosensitizing agents. We hope this review can provide a fertile ground for the innovative design of polymeric nanosystems for targeting the delivery and controlled release of metal-containing therapeutic agents.

Gold Nanoparticle Embedded Stimuli-Responsive Functional Glycopolymer: A Potential Material for Synergistic Chemo-Photodynamic Therapy of Cancer Cells

Photodynamic therapy has emerged as a non-invasive treatment modality for several types of cancers. However, conventional hydrophobic photosensitizers (PS) suffer from low water solubility and poor tumor-targeting ability. Therefore, PS modified with glycopolymers can offer adequate water solubility, biocompatibility and tumor-targeting ability due to the presence of multiple sugar units. In this study, a well-defined block copolymer (BCP) poly(3-O-methacryloyl-D-glucopyranose)-b-poly(2-(4-formylbenzoyloxy)ethylmethacrylate) (PMAG-b-PFBEMA) containing pendant glucose and aldehyde units was synthesized via reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) polymerization method. A water-soluble PS (toluidine blue O; TBO) and a potent anti-cancer drug, Doxorubicin (Dox) were introduced to the polymer backbone via acid-labile Schiff-base reaction (PMAG-b-PFBEMA_TBO_Dox). The PMAG-b-PFBEMA_TBO_Dox was then anchored on the surface of AuNP via electrostatic interaction. This hybrid system exhibited excellent reactive oxygen species (ROS) generating ability under exposure of 630 nm LED along with triggered release of Dox under the acidic pH of tumor cells. The in vitro cytotoxicity study on human breast cancer cell line, MDA MB 231, for this hybrid system showed promising results due to the synergistic effect of ROS and Dox released. Thus, this glycopolymer-based dual (chemo-photodynamic) therapy model can work as potential material for future therapeutics. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

pH-Responsive Emission of Novel Water-Soluble Polymeric Iridium(III) Complexes

The synthesis and characterization of water-soluble copolymers containing N,N-dimethylacrylamide (DMAM) and a vinylic monomer containing an Iridium(III), Ir(III), complex substituted with the quinoline-based unit 2-(pyridin-2-ylo)-6-styrene-4-phenylquinoline (VQPy) as ligand are reported. These copolymers were prepared through pre- or post-polymerization complexation of Ir(III) with the VQPy units. The first methodology led to copolymer P1 having fully complexed VQPy units, whereas the latter methodology allowed the preparation of terpolymers containing free and Ir(III)-complexed VQPy units (copolymer P2). The optical properties of the copolymers were studied in detail through UV-Vis and photoluminescence spectroscopy in aqueous solution. It is shown that the metal-to-ligand charge transfer (ΜLCT) emission is prevailing in the case of P1, regardless of pH. In contrast, in the case of terpolymer P2 the MLCT emission of the Ir(III) complex is combined with the pH-responsive emission of free VQPy units, leading to characteristic pH-responsive color changes under UV illumination in the acidic pH region.

Tailor-made Glycopolymers via Reversible Deactivation Radical Polymerization: Design, Properties and Applications

Investigating the underlying mechanism of biological interactions using glycopolymer is becoming increasingly important owing to their unique recognition properties. The multivalent interactions between lectin and glycopolymer are significantly influenced by...

Recent Strategies to Develop Innovative Photosensitizers for Enhanced Photodynamic Therapy

This review presents a robust strategy to design photosensitizers (PSs) for various species. Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is a photochemical-based treatment approach that involves the use of light combined with a light-activated chemical, referred to as a PS. Attractively, PDT is one of the alternatives to conventional cancer treatment due to its noninvasive nature, high cure rates, and low side effects. PSs play an important factor in photoinduced reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation. Although the concept of photosensitizer-based photodynamic therapy has been widely adopted for clinical trials and bioimaging, until now, to our surprise, there has been no relevant review article on rational designs of organic PSs for PDT. Furthermore, most of published review articles in PDT focused on nanomaterials and nanotechnology based on traditional PSs. Therefore, this review aimed at reporting recent strategies to develop innovative organic photosensitizers for enhanced photodynamic therapy, with each example described in detail instead of providing only a general overview, as is typically done in previous reviews of PDT, to provide intuitive, vivid, and specific insights to the readers.

Photoresponsive metallopolymer nanoparticles for cancer theranostics

Over the past decades, transition metal complexes have been successfully used in anticancer phototherapies. They have shown promising properties in many different areas including photo-induced ligand exchange or release, rich excited state behavior, and versatile biochemical properties. When encorporated into polymeric frameworks and become part of nanostructures, photoresponsive metallopolymer nanoparticles (MPNs) show enhanced water solubility, extended blood circulation and increased tumor-specific accumulation, which greatly improves the tumor therapeutic effects compared to low-molecule-weight metal complexes. In this review, we aim to present the recent development of photoresponsive MPNs as therapeutic nanomedicines. This review will summarize four major areas separately, namely platinum-containing polymers, zinc-containing polymers, iridium-containing polymers and ruthenium-containing polymers. Representative MPNs of each type are discussed in terms of their design strategies, fabrication methods, and working mechanisms. Current challenges and future perspectives in this field are also highlighted.

Polymer-Based Drug-Free Therapeutics for Anticancer, Anti-Inflammatory, and Antibacterial Treatment

This paper summarizes the area of biomedicinal polymers, which serve as nanomedicines even though they do not contain any anticancer or antiinflammatory drugs. These polymer nanomedicines with unique design are in the literature highlighted as a novel class of therapeutics called "drug-free macromolecular therapeutics." Their therapeutic efficacy is based on the tailored multiple presentations of biologically active vectors, i.e., peptides, oligopeptides, or oligosaccharides. Thus, they enable, for example, to directly induce the apoptosis of malignant cells by the crosslinking of surface slowly internalizing receptors, or to deplete the efficacy of tumor-associated proteins. The precise biorecognition of natural binding motifs by multiple vectors on the polymer construct remains the crucial part in the designing of these drug-free nanomedicines. Here, the rationales, designs, synthetic approaches, and therapeutic potential of drug-free macromolecular therapeutics consisting of various active vectors are described in detail. Recent developments and achievements for namely B-cell lymphoma treatment, Gal-3-positive tumors, inflammative liver injury, and bacterial treatment are reviewed and highlighted. Finally, a possible future prospect within this highly exciting new field of nanomedicine research is presented.

New Approach in the Application of Conjugated Polymers: The Light-Activated Source of Versatile Singlet Oxygen Molecule

For many years, the research on conjugated polymers (CPs) has been mainly focused on their application in organic electronics. Recent works, however, show that due to the unique optical and photophysical properties of CPs, such as high absorption in UV–Vis or even near-infrared (NIR) region and efficient intra-/intermolecular energy transfer, which can be relatively easily optimized, CPs can be considered as an effective light-activated source of versatile and highly reactive singlet oxygen for medical or catalytic use. The aim of this short review is to present the novel possibilities that lie dormant in those exceptional polymers with the extended system of π-conjugated bonds.

Augmenting Therapeutic Potential of Polyphenols by Hydrogen-Bonding Complexation for the Treatment of Acute Lung Inflammation

Dysregulated inflammation is considered as an essential pathological process in inflammation-associated diseases, which would be aggravated by high levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation inducing oxidative stress. Currently, extensive attention has been paid to polyphenolic compounds owing to their broad spectrum biological activities, such as antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects, while their therapeutic potential has been compromised by the poor stability, short plasma half-life, and low bioavailability. Given that polyphenols have a wide range of structural characteristics and various physicochemical properties, there remains a real challenge toward green, mass production of universal nanocarriers for effective entrapment of these active pharmaceutical ingredients. In this study, we adopted a flash nanocomplexation (FNC) platform to prepare nanocomplexes comprising polyphenols and d-α-tocopheryl polyethylene glycol 1000 succinate (TPGS) enabled by hydrogen bonding. We confirmed that the molecular structure of polyphenols has a great influence on their complexation with TPGS, and stable nanocomplexes were formed when the number of phenolic hydroxyl groups of polyphenols was above the value of 8. These hydrogen-bonded nanocomplexes produced by an FNC apparatus exhibited well-controlled quality with uniform size, good colloidal stability, and high batch-to-batch repeatability, thus improving the druggability as potent nanotherapeutics for antioxidant and anti-inflammatory applications. In vivo experiments indicated that the optimal nanocomplex (EGCG-NC) can be applied to ameliorate acute lung injury in a mice model after nasal administration. These results proved that polyphenols formulated with TPGS for nanocomplex formation through hydrogen-bonding complexation could augment their therapeutic potential for modulating hyperactive inflammation in the treatment of acute lung inflammation.

Glycopolymer Brushes by Reversible Deactivation Radical Polymerization: Preparation, Applications, and Future Challenges

The cellular surface contains specific proteins, also known as lectins, that are carbohydrates receptors involved in different biological events, such as cell-cell adhesion, cell recognition and cell differentiation. The synthesis of well-defined polymers containing carbohydrate units, known as glycopolymers, by reversible deactivation radical polymerization (RDRP) methods allows the development of tailor-made materials with high affinity for lectins because of their multivalent interaction. These polymers are promising candidates for the biomedical field, namely as novel diagnostic disease markers, biosensors, or carriers for tumor-targeted therapy. Although linear glycopolymers are extensively studied for lectin recognition, branched glycopolymeric structures, such as polymer brushes can establish stronger interactions with lectins. This specific glycopolymer topology can be synthesized in a bottlebrush form or grafted to/from surfaces by using RDRP methods, allowing a precise control over molecular weight, grafting density, and brush thickness. Here, the preparation and application of glycopolymer brushes is critically discussed and future research directions on this topic are suggested.

Rational design of semiconducting polymer brushes as cancer theranostics

Photonic theranostics (PTs) generally contain optical agents for the optical sensing of biomolecules and therapeutic components for converting light into heat or chemical energy. Semiconducting polymer nanoparticles (SPNs) as advanced PTs possessing good biocompatibility, stable photophysical properties, and sensitive and tunable optical responses from the ultraviolet to near-infrared (NIR) II window (300-1700 nm) have recently aroused great interest. Although semiconducting polymers (SPs) with various building blocks have been synthesized and developed to meet the demands of biophotonic applications, most of the SPNs were made by a nanoprecipitation method that used amphiphilic surfactants to encapsulate SPs. Such binary SP micelles usually exhibit weakened photophysical properties of SPs and undergo dissociation in vivo. SP brushes (SPBs) are products of functional post-modification of SP backbones, which endows unique features to SPNs (e.g. enhanced optical properties and multiple chemical reaction sites for the conjunction of organic/inorganic imaging agents and therapeutics). Furthermore, the SPB-based SPNs can be highly stable due to supramolecular self-assembly and/or chemical crosslinking. In this review, we highlight the recent progress in the development of SPBs for advanced theranostics.

AIE nanodots scaffolded by mini-ferritin protein for cellular imaging and photodynamic therapy

Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is one of the most elegant cancer treatment strategies that can be controlled by a beam of light with non-invasion, precise control, and high spatiotemporal accuracy. An ideal photosensitizer (PS) is the key to ensure the efficacy of PDT. Due to their hydrophobic and rigid planar structures, most traditional PSs are prone to aggregate under physiological conditions, which causes fluorescence quenching and significantly reduces reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation. Fortunately, the emergence of aggregation-induced emission (AIE) dyes offers a potential opportunity to overcome these limitations. When AIE PS molecules are in the aggregation state, the fluorescence intensity and ROS production can be increased. We herein use red AIE PS molecules to prepare stable AIE nanodots for cell imaging and PDT via a simple method with a highly negatively charged mini-ferritin protein as the scaffold. The as-prepared protein-AIE nanodots show strong fluorescence emission and efficient singlet oxygen generation, with good stability, relatively long wavelengths of absorption and emission, and negligible dark toxicity. The mini-ferritin-AIE system may be useful in developing novel functional probes for tumour nanotheranostics.

Preparation of a novel sandwich-type electrochemical immunosensor for AFP detection based on an ATRP and click chemistry technique

It is extremely important to explore the synthesis methodology and application scope of functional polymer brush-based nanocomposites.

Preparation of fluorescent polystyrene nanoparticles mediated by a multi-functional amphiphilic iridium complex under visible light irradiation in aqueous solution

Amphiphilc iridium(iii) complex has been synthesized and served as both a photoinitiator and a surfactant for the preparation of nanoparticles with high fluorescence intensity and uniform morphology by visible light irradiation of styrene in aqueous.

Water-soluble hyperbranched polyglycerol photosensitizer for enhanced photodynamic therapy

Herein, we successfully fabricated a new type of water-soluble, hyperbranched polyglycerol photosensitizer through one-step esterification between water-soluble hyperbranched polyglycerol (hbPG) and fluorophenylporphyrin (FP).

The Dark Side: Photosensitizer Prodrugs

Photodynamic therapy (PDT) and photodiagnosis (PD) are essential approaches in the field of biophotonics. Ideally, both modalities require the selective sensitization of the targeted disease in order to avoid undesired phenomena such as the destruction of healthy tissue, skin photosensitization, or mistaken diagnosis. To a large extent, the occurrence of these incidents can be attributed to “background” accumulation in non-target tissue. Therefore, an ideal photoactive compound should be optically silent in the absence of disease, but bright in its presence. Such requirements can be fulfilled using innovative prodrug strategies targeting disease-associated alterations. Here we will summarize the elaboration, characterization, and evaluation of approaches using polymeric photosensitizer prodrugs, nanoparticles, micelles, and porphysomes. Finally, we will discuss the use of 5-aminolevulinc acid and its derivatives that are selectively transformed in neoplastic cells into photoactive protoporphyrin IX.

Photosensitizers for Photodynamic Therapy

As an emerging clinical modality for cancer treatment, photodynamic therapy (PDT) takes advantage of the cytotoxic activity of reactive oxygen species (ROS) that are generated by light irradiating photosensitizers (PSs) in the presence of oxygen (O₂ ). However, further advancements including tumor selectivity and ROS generation efficiency are still required. Substantial efforts are devoted to design and synthesize smart PSs with optimized properties for achieving a desirable therapeutic efficacy. This review summarizes the recent progress in developing intelligent PSs for efficient PDT, ranging from single molecules to delicate nanomaterials. The strategies to improve ROS generation through optimizing photoinduced electron transfer and energy transfer processes of PSs are highlighted. Moreover, the approaches that combine PDT with other therapeutics (e.g., chemotherapy, photothermal therapy, and radiotherapy) and the targeted delivery in cancer cells or tumor tissue are introduced. The main challenges for the clinical application of PSs are also discussed.

A series of photosensitizers with incremental positive electric charges for photodynamic antitumor therapy

In recent years, photodynamic therapy (PDT) studies have gained considerable attention as a non-invasive method used to fight cancer. In this study, a series of structurally similar photosensitizers (PSs) with incremental positive electric charges (ZnPc-4, 8 and 12) was investigated via in vitro and in vivo experiments. Photodynamic antitumor studies of these PSs, including phototoxicities, cellular uptake, the production of reactive oxygen species (ROSs) and the process of apoptosis, were conducted in the murine breast carcinoma cell line 4T1. The results indicated that the amount of positive electric charges in PSs is a key factor in influencing the efficacy of PDT. Furthermore, we established a hepatocellular carcinoma (H22) tumor-bearing mouse model to detect the antitumor activities of three PSs. ZnPc-4, 8 and 12 demonstrated significant antitumor effects and no obvious systemic damages in vivo (PDT effects: ZnPc-4 > ZnPc-8 > ZnPc-12), suggesting that the amount of positive electric charges was important to PSs, as well as the PDT effects. Our study not only indicates that ZnPc-4, 8 and 12 were highly potent anticancer PSs, but also suggests that adjusting the amount of positive electric charges is able to promote the PDT effects in cancer therapy.

In recent years, photodynamic therapy (PDT) studies have gained considerable attention as a non-invasive method used to fight cancer.

A perylene diimide zwitterionic polymer for photoacoustic imaging guided photothermal/photodynamic synergistic therapy with single near-infrared irradiation

A biocompatible zwitterionic polymer (PDS-PDI) was designed for PAI guided synergistic PDT and PTT with single NIR light irradiation.

A highly water-soluble triblock conjugated polymer for in vivo NIR-II imaging and photothermal therapy of cancer

A highly water-soluble conjugated polymer probe was developed for tumor NIR-II imaging and photothermal therapy.