Self-Assembled Ag2S-QD Vesicles for In Situ Responsive NIR-II Fluorescence Imaging-Guided Photothermal Cancer Therapy

Bioimaging guided photothermal therapy possesses great promise for lesion diagnosis and effective treatment. However, distinguishing lesion from normal tissues for precise cancer therapy remains a great challenge. Herein, a stimulation-responsive assembled Ag2S vesicle (Ag2S Ve) is proposed by self-assembly of Ag2S quantum dots (QDs) coated with pH-sensitive copolymer thiolated polystyrene-co-poly(4-vinylpyridine). The Ag2S Ve shows significant absorption enhancement in the near-infrared (NIR) region and strong fluorescence inhibition in the second near infrared (NIR-II) region. Triggered by the acidic environment, the release of Ag2S QDs promptly mediates the quenched NIR-II fluorescence from off to on. In vivo studies reveal that the theranostic Ag2S Ve can be specifically activated in acidic tumor tissues, whereas it exhibits nonfunctional in normal tissues. Larger sizes endow vesicles a higher tumor accumulation efficiency and controllable disassembly shows illuminating characteristics toward lesion tissues, which provides an innovative therapeutic strategy for activated NIR-II fluorescence imaging guided cancer therapy.

Automated summary

Bioimaging guided photothermal therapy using stimulation-responsive assembled Ag2S vesicles offers a promising approach for cancer therapy. The vesicles show activation in acidic tumor tissues while remaining nonfunctional in normal tissues, with larger sizes enhancing tumor accumulation and controllable disassembly for improved lesion targeting. This innovative therapeutic strategy provides a new direction for activated NIR-II fluorescence imaging guided cancer therapy.