Tumor-targeting semiconducting polymer nanoparticles: efficient adjuvant photothermal therapy using ultra-low laser power inhibits recurrences after breast-conserving surgery

Abstract

The need for adjuvant therapy to inhibit local recurrence after breast-conserving surgery with minimal side effects is great. Adjuvant photothermal therapy (aPTT) has the potential to replace radiotherapy and eliminates its inherent damage to healthy tissues. Herein, we functionalized semiconducting polymer nanoparticles (SPNs) with cRGD–peptide and silicon 2,3-naphthalocyanine bis(trihexylsilyloxide) (NIR775) to target breast cancer and perform aPTT under an ultra-low laser power (0.2 W cm⁻²) after breast-conserving surgery (BCS). The synthesized RGD–SPN_NIR775 showed an excellent photothermal conversion efficiency and biocompatibility and was demonstrated to accumulate in tumors specifically. The BCS could be performed with confidence under the guidance of preoperative and postoperative fluorescence imaging. Notably, the aPTT completely inhibited the local recurrence after the BCS without compromising the cosmetic effect of the BCS. These results indicate the prospect of RGD–SPN_NIR775 as a theranostic nanoplatform for efficient aPTT using an ultra-low laser power to control recurrence after BCS.