@article{Shao_Yang_Li_Wu_Wang_Ding_Gao_Ling_2020, title={Molecular Design of Conjugated Small Molecule Nanoparticles for Synergistically Enhanced PTT/ PDT}, volume={12}, url={https://nmlett.org/index.php/nml/article/view/45}, DOI={10.1007/s40820-020-00474-6}, abstractNote={<p>Simultaneous photothermal therapy (PTT) and photodynamic therapy (PDT) is beneficial for enhanced cancer therapy due to the synergistic effect. Conventional materials developed for synergistic PTT/PDT are generally multicomponent agents that need complicated preparation procedures and be activated by multiple laser sources. The emerging monocomponent diketopyrrolopyrrole (DPP)-based conjugated small molecular agents enable dual PTT/PDT under a single laser irradiation, but suffer from low singlet oxygen quantum yield, which severely restricts the therapeutic efficacy. Herein, we report acceptor-oriented molecular design of a donor–acceptor–donor (D–A–D) conjugated small molecule (IID-ThTPA)-based phototheranostic agent, with isoindigo (IID) as selective acceptor and triphenylamine (TPA) as donor. The strong D–A strength and narrow singlet–triplet energy gap endow IID-ThTPA nanoparticles (IID-ThTPA NPs) high mass extinction coefficient (18.2&nbsp;L&nbsp;g<sup>−1</sup>&nbsp;cm<sup>−1</sup>), competitive photothermal conversion efficiency (35.4%), and a dramatically enhanced singlet oxygen quantum yield (84.0%) comparing with previously reported monocomponent PTT/PDT agents. Such a high PTT/PDT performance of IID-ThTPA NPs achieved superior tumor cooperative eradicating capability in vitro and in vivo.</p> <p>Highlights:</p> <p>1 A donor–acceptor–donor (D–A–D) conjugated small molecule IID-ThTPA with narrow singlet–triplet energy gap is synthesized via acceptor-oriented molecular design.<br>2 IID-ThTPA nanoparticles exhibit not only competitive photothermal conversion efficiency (35.4%), but also a dramatically high singlet oxygen quantum yield (84.0%).<br>3 IID-ThTPA nanoparticles enable superior cooperative tumor PTT/PDT eradicating capability both in vitro and in vivo.</p>}, journal={Nano-Micro Letters}, author={Shao, Wei and Yang, Chuang and Li, Fangyuan and Wu, Jiahe and Wang, Nan and Ding, Qiang and Gao, Jianqing and Ling, Daishun}, year={2020}, month={Jul.}, pages={147} }