Biomimetic NIR-II aggregation-induced emission nanoparticles for targeted photothermal therapy of ovarian cancer†

Abstract

Photothermal therapy (PTT) is a cutting-edge technique that harnesses light energy and converts it into heat for precise tumor ablation. By employing photothermal agents to selectively generate heat and target cancer cells, PTT has emerged as a promising cancer treatment strategy. Notably, therapies conducted in the second near-infrared (NIR-II) window exhibit superior therapeutic outcomes, owing to deeper tissue penetration and reduced light scattering. In this study, we developed biomimetic NIR-II aggregation-induced emission (AIE) nanoparticles (2TB-NPs@TM) for high-efficiency NIR-II imaging and targeted phototherapy of ovarian cancer. The core nanoparticle aggregates (2TB-NPs) display strong NIR-II fluorescence and high photothermal conversion efficiency, while the outer tumor cell membrane coating facilitates active targeting and precise recognition of tumor tissues. This design imparts excellent biocompatibility and enhances drug delivery efficiency, leading to potent synergistic therapeutic effects. Our findings open new avenues for advancing targeted, high-performance phototherapy diagnostics in cancer treatment.