De Novo Design of Efficient NIR‐II‐Activated Heavy‐Atom‐Free Type‐I Photosensitizer for Anti‐Tumor Photoimmunotherapy

H Huan Chen Y Yu Wang Z Zhangxin He Y Yingpeng Wan (College of Pharmaceutical Sciences Soochow University Suzhou 215123 P. R. China) C Chen Cao (Key Laboratory of Advanced Catalysis, Gansu Province; State Key Laboratory of Natural Product Chemistry, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering) Z Ziwei Lu (College of Pharmaceutical Sciences Soochow University Suzhou 215123 P. R. China) Y Yijian Gao (College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, The Fourth Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou Medical College) X Xiao Cui K Ka‐Wai Lee (Center of Super‐Diamond and Advanced Films (COSDAF) Department of Chemistry City University of Hong Kong 83 Tat Chee Avenue Kowloon Hong Kong SAR P. R. China) J Ji‐Hua Tan (School of Chemical Engineering and Light Industry Guangdong University of Technology Guangzhou P. R. China) W Wenchang Xu (College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, The Fourth Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou Medical College) Y Yuliang Yang (College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, The Fourth Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou Medical College) X Xiliang Li (College of Pharmaceutical Sciences The Fourth Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou Medical College, Soochow University Suzhou P.R. China) Y Yali Wang (The Key Laboratory of Zhejiang Province for Aptamers and Theranostics, Hangzhou Institute of Medicine (HIM), Chinese Academy of Sciences) J Jianquan Hou S Shengliang Li (College of Pharmaceutical Sciences) C Chun‐Sing Lee (Department of Chemistry City University of Hong Kong Kowloon Hong Kong SAR P. R. China)

Abstract

AbstractType‐I photosensitizers (PSs) are considered to be efficient agents for overcoming the oxygen‐dependent deficiency of traditional photodynamic therapy (PDT). However, it is still challenging to design type‐I PSs that can be activated by the second near‐infrared (NIR‐II) irradiation. Herein, a series of organic heavy‐atom‐free molecules are designed (named as CTU1, CTU2, and CTU3) and exhibit strong absorption bands over the first near‐infrared and NIR‐II regions. Among them, water‐dispersible CTU3 nanoparticles (NPs) show strong J‐aggregate characteristics and a good NIR‐II absorption band, resulting in highly efficient •O2− generation upon irradiation of 1064 nm light. In addition, the CTU3 NPs also exhibit a high photothermal conversion efficiency of 88.6%. In vitro and in vivo experiments show that CTU3 NPs have superior PDT and photothermal therapy (PTT) effects, which can further induce immunogenic cell death and activate immune cells in 4T1 tumor‐bearing mice for combined PDT/PTT anti‐tumor photoimmunotherapy against refractory tumors. This work presents a paradigm of de novo design of NIR‐II light‐activated type‐I PS for combinational photoimmunotherapy of cancer.

Article Details

Volume / Issue Vol. 37, Issue 33
Published August 01, 2025
ISSN 0935-9648
Publisher Unknown Publisher

Journal Info

Advanced Materials

Unknown Publisher

ISSN: 0935-9648 Physical Sciences

Authors (17)

H

Huan Chen

Y

Yu Wang

Z

Zhangxin He

Y

Yingpeng Wan

College of Pharmaceutical Sciences Soochow University Suzhou 215123 P. R. China

C

Chen Cao

Key Laboratory of Advanced Catalysis, Gansu Province; State Key Laboratory of Natural Product Chemistry, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering

Z

Ziwei Lu

College of Pharmaceutical Sciences Soochow University Suzhou 215123 P. R. China

Y

Yijian Gao

College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, The Fourth Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou Medical College

X

Xiao Cui

K

Ka‐Wai Lee

Center of Super‐Diamond and Advanced Films (COSDAF) Department of Chemistry City University of Hong Kong 83 Tat Chee Avenue Kowloon Hong Kong SAR P. R. China

J

Ji‐Hua Tan

School of Chemical Engineering and Light Industry Guangdong University of Technology Guangzhou P. R. China

W

Wenchang Xu

College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, The Fourth Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou Medical College

Y

Yuliang Yang

College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, The Fourth Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou Medical College

X

Xiliang Li

College of Pharmaceutical Sciences The Fourth Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou Medical College, Soochow University Suzhou P.R. China

Y

Yali Wang

The Key Laboratory of Zhejiang Province for Aptamers and Theranostics, Hangzhou Institute of Medicine (HIM), Chinese Academy of Sciences

J

Jianquan Hou

S

Shengliang Li

College of Pharmaceutical Sciences

C

Chun‐Sing Lee

Department of Chemistry City University of Hong Kong Kowloon Hong Kong SAR P. R. China