One small molecule as a theranostic agent: naphthalimide dye for subcellular fluorescence localization and photodynamic therapy in vivo

A novel single and small molecular theranostic agent (1a) based on a naphthalimide dye has been developed and characterized. The agent (1a) displays excellent fluorescence for cell imaging (fluorescent quantum yields of 0.81) and photodynamic effects for therapeutic effectiveness (micromolar inhibition efficacy in vitro towards a broad spectrum of tumor models and anticancer treatment in vivo on A375 tumor xenograft models). This provides a new approach for simultaneous improvement in two directions using a small molecule as theranostic agent, which usually are in conflict with each other for most traditional theranostic agents.