Selenium-Integrated Conjugated Oligomer Nanoparticles with High Photothermal Conversion Efficiency for NIR-II Imaging-Guided Cancer Phototheranostics In Vivo

Abstract

Abstract Second near-infrared (NIR-II) fluorescence imaging in the range of 1000–1700 nm has great prospects for in vivo imaging and theranostics monitoring. At present, few NIR-II probes with theranostics properties have been developed, especially the high-performance organic theranostics material remains underexploited. Herein, we demonstrate a selenium-tailoring method to develop high-efficient NIR-II imaging-guided material for in vivo cancer phototheranostics. Via selenium (Se)-tailoring strategy, conjugated oligomer TPSe-based nanoparticles (NPs) achieve bright NIR-II emission up to 1400 nm and exhibit a relatively high photothermal conversion efficiency of 60% with good stability. Moreover, the TPSe NPs demonstrate their photothermal ablation of cancer cells in vitro and tumor in vivo with the guidance of NIR-II imaging. It is worth noting that the TPSe NPs have good biocompatibility without obvious side effects. Thus, this work provides new insight into the development of NIR-II theranostics agents.