A near infrared light activated phenothiazine based cancer cell specific phototherapeutic system: a synergistic approach to chemo-photothermal therapy.

In the pursuit of more effective cancer therapies, phototherapy has emerged as a promising approach due to its non-invasive nature and high precision. This study presents the development of a near-infrared (NIR) light-responsive phenothiazine (PTZ) based phototherapeutic system designed for targeted cancer treatment. This phototherapeutic system integrates four crucial elements for enhanced therapeutic efficacy: cancer cell-specific activity, mitochondrial targeting, photothermal conversion, and controlled drug release.