NIR-II Ratiometric Chemiluminescent/Fluorescent Reporters for Real-Time Monitoring and Evaluating Cancer Photodynamic Therapy Efficacy

The development of probes for early monitoring tumor therapy response may greatly benefit the promotion of photodynamic therapy (PDT) efficacy. Singlet oxygen (O-1(2)) generation is a typical indicator for evaluating PDT efficacy in cancer. However, most existing probes cannot quantitatively detect O-1(2) in vivo due to the high reactivity and transient state, and thus have a poor correlation with PDT response. Herein, a O-1(2)-responsive theranostic platform comprising thiophene-based small molecule (2SeFT-PEG) and photosensitizer Chlorin e6 (Ce6) micelles for real-time monitoring PDT efficacy is developed. After laser irradiation, the Ce6-produced O-1(2) could simultaneously kill cancer and trigger 2SeFT-PEG to produce increased chemiluminescence (CL) and decreased fluorescence (FL) signals variation at 1050 nm in the second near-infrared (NIR-II, 950-1700 nm) window. Significantly, the ratiometric NIR-II CL/FL imaging at 1050 nm could effectively quantify and monitor the concentration of O-1(2) and O-2 consumption or recovery, so as to evaluate the therapeutic efficacy of PDT in vivo. Hence, this O-1(2) activated NIR-II CL/FL probe provides an efficient ratiometric optical imaging platform for real-time evaluating PDT effect and precisely guiding the PDT process in vivo.

Automated summary

A novel therapeutic monitoring platform has been developed in this study to monitor the efficacy of photodynamic therapy in real time and evaluate the treatment effect in vivo. This probe can effectively quantify and monitor the concentration and consumption of reactants using chemiluminescence and fluorescence signal changes generated by light excitation, providing strong support for achieving more precise treatment.