Self-Assembled Gd/Cyanine Nanoplatform for Magnetic Resonance Imaging Guided Photothermal Therapy of Thyroid Cancer

Thyroid cancer, a prevalent endocrine malignancy with rising incidence, necessitates advanced strategies for precise diagnosis and effective treatment. In this study, we develop a self-assembled gadolinium-cyanine coordination-driven nanoscale metal–organic particle (CyO/Gd NPs) that seamlessly integrates magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and photothermal therapy (PTT) for enhanced theranostic applications. The coordination-driven self-assembly endows CyO/Gd NPs with superior photostability and significantly enhanced photothermal conversion efficiency (∼50.3%) under near-infrared laser irradiation, surpassing free cyanine dyes. These nanoparticles effectively induce apoptosis and necrosis in thyroid cancer cells and exhibit potent in vivo antitumor efficacy. Furthermore, the incorporated Gd3+ ions act as T1-weighted MRI contrast agents, facilitating precise tumor localization and real-time monitoring of therapeutic progress. By bridging imaging and therapy, CyO/Gd NPs offer a robust multifunctional platform for thyroid cancer theranostics, paving the way for next-generation integrated diagnostic and therapeutic nanoplatforms.