INPIC-4F Nonfullerene\nAcceptor Nanoparticles for Fluorescence\nImaging-Guided Photothermal and Photodynamic Cancer Therapy

Phototheranostics, which consists of photothermal therapy\n(PTT)\nand photodynamic therapy (PDT), has exhibited huge potential in preventing\nthe development of cancer. Then, phototheranostics utilizing photoacoustic\nimaging (PAI) in the second near-infrared (NIR-II) region, combined\nwith high photothermal conversion efficiency (PCE) and cytotoxic reactive\noxygen species (ROS) generation. In this work, we designed and prepared\na fused-ring acceptor–donor–acceptor (A–D–A)\nmolecule structure named INPIC-4F NP, known for its strong NIR light\nabsorption and hydrophobic properties. INPIC-4F NPs in aqueous solution\nbehaved excellently with NIR-II and PAI ability with NIR absorption\nat 808 nm and its fluorescence peaked at ∼1000 nm. With singlet\noxygen in a quantum yield of 11%, INPIC-4F NPs showed potential for\nPDT ability. Moreover, INPIC-4F showed a PCE value of 83% under laser\nirradiation, which was obviously higher than that caused by photothermal\nagents, demonstrating an excellent PTT capacity. Combining previous\nand present results, INPIC-4F nanoparticles could improve the treatment\neffect for cancer through fluorescence imaging-guided photothermal\nand photodynamic synergistic therapy.