Boosting Non-Radiative Decay of Boron Difluoride Formazanate Dendrimers for NIR-II Photothermal Theranostics.

The development of small molecular dyes excitable in the second near-infrared window (NIR-II, 1000~1700 nm) is crucial for deep-tissue penetration and maximum permissible exposure in cancer photothermal theranostics. Herein, we employed a dendrimer engineering strategy to develop the boron difluoride formazanate (BDF) dye BDF-8OMe for photoacoustic imaging-mediated NIR-II photothermal therapy. BDF-8OMe, characterized by an increased molecular branching degree and extended π-conjugation, exhibited broad absorbance peaked at 905 nm, with the absorption tail extending to 1300 nm.

Correction: A HO self-sufficient nanoplatform with domino effects for thermal-responsive enhanced chemodynamic therapy.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1039/C9SC05506A.].

Proton-Driven Transformable O -Nanotrap for Dark and Hypoxia Tolerant Photodynamic Therapy.

Despite the clinical potential, photodynamic therapy (PDT) relying on singlet oxygen ( O ) generation is severely limited by tumor hypoxia and endosomal entrapment. Herein, a proton-driven transformable O -nanotrap (ANBDP NPs) with endosomal escape capability is presented to improve hypoxic tumor PDT. In the acidic endosomal environment, the protonated O -nanotrap ruptures endosomal membranes via a "proton-sponge" like effect and undergoes a drastic morphology-and-size change from nanocubes (≈94.

Thrombin Based Photothermal-Responsive Nanoplatform for Tumor-Specific Embolization Therapy.

The specific coagulation in the tumor vasculature has the potential for the ablation of solid tumors by cutting off the blood supply. However, the safe delivery of effective vessel occluding agents in the tumor-specific embolization therapy remains challenging. Herein, it is reported that the photothermal responsive tumor-specific embolization therapy based on thrombin (Thr) is delivered by intravenous injection via the phase-change materials (PCM)-based nanoparticles.

Small Molecular NIR-II Fluorophores for Cancer Phototheranostics.

Phototheranostics integrates deep-tissue imaging with phototherapy (containing photothermal therapy and photodynamic therapy), holding great promise in early diagnosis and precision treatment of cancers. Recently, second near-infrared (NIR-II) fluorescence imaging exhibits the merits of high accuracy and specificity, as well as real-time detection. Among the NIR-II fluorophores, organic small molecular fluorophores have shown superior properties in the biocompatibility, variable structure, and tunable emission wavelength than the inorganic NIR-II materials.

NIR-II Organic Nanotheranostics for Precision Oncotherapy.

Precision oncotherapy can remove tumors without causing any apparent iatrogenic damage or irreversible side effects to normal tissues. Second near-infrared (NIR-II) nanotheranostics can simultaneously perform diagnostic and therapeutic modalities in a single nanoplatform, which exhibits prominent perspectives in tumor precision treatment. Among all NIR-II nanotheranostics, NIR-II organic nanotheranostics have shown an exceptional promise for translation in clinical tumor treatment than NIR-II inorganic nanotheranostics in virtue of their good biocompatibility, excellent reproducibility, desirable excretion, and high biosafety.

Recent advances in phase change material based nanoplatforms for cancer therapy.

Cancer has become a severe threat to human life due to its high mortality and metastatic rate. Effective inhibition and killing of cancer cells using chemotherapeutic drugs have been a promising means in clinical cancer therapy. However, the low selectivity, drug-resistance, uncontrollability and serious side effects of chemotherapy significantly limit its further development.

A Highly-Efficient Type I Photosensitizer with Robust Vascular-Disruption Activity for Hypoxic-and-Metastatic Tumor Specific Photodynamic Therapy.

Hypoxia severely impedes photodynamic therapy (PDT) efficiency. Worse still, considerable tumor metastasis will occur after PDT. Herein, an organic superoxide radical (O ) nano-photogenerator as a highly effcient type I photosensitizer with robust vascular-disrupting efficiency to combat these thorny issues is designed.

A HO self-sufficient nanoplatform with domino effects for thermal-responsive enhanced chemodynamic therapy.

Chemodynamic therapy (CDT), employing Fenton or Fenton-like catalysts to convert hydrogen peroxide (HO) into toxic hydroxyl radicals (˙OH) to kill cancer cells, holds high promise in tumor therapy due to its high selectivity. However, the anticancer efficacy is unsatisfactory owing to the limited concentration of endogenous HO. Herein, thermal responsive nanoparticles with HO self-sufficiency are fabricated by utilizing organic phase change materials (PCMs) to encapsulate iron-gallic acid nanoparticles (Fe-GA) and ultra-small CaO.