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Vol. 16 (2024)

A Stable Open-Shell Conjugated Diradical Polymer with Ultra-High Photothermal Conversion Efficiency for NIR-II Photo-Immunotherapy of Metastatic Tumor

https://doi.org/10.1007/s40820-023-01219-x
Yijian Gao
College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Soochow University, Suzhou 215123, People’s Republic of China
Ying Liu
College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Soochow University, Suzhou 215123, People’s Republic of China
Xiliang Li
College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Soochow University, Suzhou 215123, People’s Republic of China
Hui Wang
Institute of Functional Nano & Soft Materials (FUNSOM), Soochow University, Suzhou 215123, People’s Republic of China
Yuliang Yang
College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Soochow University, Suzhou 215123, People’s Republic of China
Yu Luo
College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Soochow University, Suzhou 215123, People’s Republic of China
Yingpeng Wan
Center of Super‑Diamond and Advanced Films (COSDAF) & Department of Chemistry, City University of Hong Kong, 83 Tat Chee Avenue, Kowloon, Hong Kong SAR, People’s Republic of China
Chun‑sing 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, People’s Republic of China
Shengliang Li
College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Soochow University, Suzhou 215123, People’s Republic of China
Xiao‑Hong Zhang
Institute of Functional Nano & Soft Materials (FUNSOM), Soochow University, Suzhou 215123, People’s Republic of China

Corresponding Author: Xiao‑Hong Zhang

xiaohong_zhang@suda.edu.cn

Nano-Micro Letters, Vol. 16 (2024), Article Number: 21

Abstract

Massive efforts have been concentrated on the advance of eminent near-infrared (NIR) photothermal materials (PTMs) in the NIR-II window (1000–1700 nm), especially organic PTMs because of their intrinsic biological safety compared with inorganic PTMs. However, so far, only a few NIR-II-responsive organic PTMs was explored, and their photothermal conversion efficiencies (PCEs) still remain relatively low. Herein, donor–acceptor conjugated diradical polymers with open-shell characteristics are explored for synergistically photothermal immunotherapy of metastatic tumors in the NIR-II window. By employing side-chain regulation, the conjugated diradical polymer TTB-2 with obvious NIR-II absorption was developed, and its nanoparticles realize a record-breaking PCE of 87.7% upon NIR-II light illustration. In vitro and in vivo experiments demonstrate that TTB-2 nanoparticles show good tumor photoablation with navigation of photoacoustic imaging in the NIR-II window, without any side-effect. Moreover, by combining with PD-1 antibody, the pulmonary metastasis of breast cancer is high-effectively prevented by the efficient photo-immunity effect. Thus, this study explores superior PTMs for cancer metastasis theranostics in the NIR-II window, offering a new horizon in developing radical-characteristic NIR-II photothermal materials.


Highlights:
1 By employing side-chain regulation, the photothermal therapy response of conjugated diradical polymer can red-shift from near-infrared (NIR)-I to the NIR-II region. This strategy offers new radical materials in developing NIR-II photothermal materials.
2 The conjugated diradical polymer TTB-2 receives a record-high photothermal conversion efficiency of 87.7%, far beyond the recently reported NIR-II photothermal agents. Such conjugated diradical polymer must enrich the NIR-II photothermal agents’ library and provide important insight for more diradical polymer construction.
3 The conjugated diradical polymer nanoparticles TTB-2 NPs achieve good tumor photoablation with navigation of photoacoustic imaging in the NIR-II window, without any side effect. Furthermore, the efficient photo-immunity effect prevents the pulmonary metastasis of breast cancer.

Keywords

NIR-II conjugated polymer Photothermal Radical Nanoparticles Cancer therapy
Gao, Yijian, Ying Liu, Xiliang Li, Hui Wang, Yuliang Yang, Yu Luo, Yingpeng Wan, Chun‑sing Lee, Shengliang Li, and Xiao‑Hong Zhang. 2023. “A Stable Open-Shell Conjugated Diradical Polymer With Ultra-High Photothermal Conversion Efficiency for NIR-II Photo-Immunotherapy of Metastatic Tumor”. Nano-Micro Letters 16 (November):21. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40820-023-01219-x.
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