Rational design of BODIPY organic nanoparticles for enhanced photodynamic/photothermal therapy

It is imperative to develop organic photosensitizers for both photothermal and photodynamic therapy under same irradiation. Herein, we design a simple TEG-borondipyrromethene (TBDP) with very low fluorescence quantum yield (Phi(f) = 2%), possessing excellent photothermal and photodynamic efficacy. The introduction of TEG can improve the water solubility of borondipyrromethene (BODIPY) and facilitate the assembly of TBDP to form stable nanoparticles. The formed TBDP nanoparticles possess excellent photothermal and photodynamic efficacy. When the nanoparticle was internalized by cells and irradiated by 635 nm red light, it would generate both singlet oxygen and heat to kill the cells, exhibiting excellent phototoxicity and photostability. The results of in vivo anti-tumor experiment further confirm its outstanding phototoxicity. This work provides a new platform in biomedical field and cancer treatment.