Near-infrared phosphorescent carbon dots for sonodynamic precision tumor therapy

Theranostic sonosensitizers with combined sonodynamic and near infrared (NIR) imaging modes are required for imaging guided sonodynamic therapy (SDT). It is challenging, however, to realize a single material that is simultaneously endowed with both NIR emitting and sonodynamic activities. Herein, we report the design of a class of NIR-emitting sonosensitizers from a NIR phosphorescent carbon dot (CD) material with a narrow bandgap (1.62 eV) and long-lived excited triplet states (11.4 mu s), two of which can enhance SDT as thermodynamically and dynamically favorable factors under low-intensity ultrasound irradiation, respectively. The NIR-phosphorescent CDs are identified as bipolar quantum dots containing both p- and n-type surface functionalization regions that can drive spatial separation of e(-)-h(+) pairs and fast transfer to reaction sites. Importantly, the cancer-specific targeting and high-level intratumor enrichment of the theranostic CDs are achieved by cancer cell membrane encapsulation for precision SDT with complete eradication of solid tumors by single injection and single irradiation. These results will open up a promising approach to engineer phosphorescent materials with long-lived triplet excited states for sonodynamic precision tumor therapy. Combining sonodynamic properties and NIR fluorescence into a single material is desired for deep tissue applications. Here, the authors report on carbon dot sono-sensitizers engineered with a narrow bandgap and coated with cancer cell membrane for targeted NIR guided sonodynamic cancer therapy.

Automated summary

In this study, a new method for designing near infrared (NIR) emitting sonosensitizers is reported. These sonosensitizers have a narrow bandgap and long-lived excited states, which can enhance sonodynamic therapy under low-intensity ultrasound irradiation. By encapsulating the sonosensitizers in cancer cell membranes, precise targeting and complete eradication of solid tumors can be achieved with a single injection and single irradiation.