Issue 17, 2023

Multifunctional nanomicelles constructed via an aggregation and de-aggregation strategy for magnetic resonance/NIR II fluorescence imaging-guided type I photodynamic therapy

Abstract

Fluorescence and magnetic resonance imaging (FL/MRI) has received much attention due to their complementary characteristics. However, the simultaneous enhancement of fluorescence and MR signals plus the efficacy of the treatment is still a major challenge. To tackle this difficulty, we put forward a strategy of aggregation and de-aggregation based on luminogens with aggregation-induced emission (AIE) features. NIR II photosensitizer 4,4′-(6,7-diphenyl-[1,2,5]thiadiazolo[3,4-g]quinoxaline-4,9-diyl)bis(N,N-diphenylaniline) (TQ-TPA) with type I reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation ability and amphiphilic 2TPE-Gd were synthesized, and both of them showed the AIE feature. During the construction of nanomicelles, hydrophobic TQ-TPA spontaneously aggregated into the core of the nanomicelles formed by 1,2-distearoyl-sn-glycerol-3-phosphoethanolamine-N-methoxy(polyethylene glycol)-2000 (DSPE-PEG). Meanwhile, aggregates of 2TPE (tetraphenylethylene)-Gd in aqueous solution could be de-aggregated and inserted into the interface, and formed TGdTT nanomicelles (NMs). Based on this strategy and the AIE feature, the TGdTT NMs exhibited strong NIR II fluorescence and type I ROS generation ability, and enhanced T1 relaxivity (r1). Moreover, in vitro, in vivo, and pharmacokinetics results demonstrated that these nanomicelles have good biosafety and a long blood circulation time. Finally, they allowed successful realization of complementary MR/NIR II fluorescence dual-modal imaging-guided photodynamic therapy (PDT) to inhibit tumor growth. This work demonstrated that the aggregation and de-aggregation strategy of AIEgens in core–shell nanomicelles is very attractive for constructing multifunctional theranostic probes.

Graphical abstract: Multifunctional nanomicelles constructed via an aggregation and de-aggregation strategy for magnetic resonance/NIR II fluorescence imaging-guided type I photodynamic therapy

Supplementary files

Article information

Article type
Research Article
Submitted
04 Nis 2023
Accepted
16 May 2023
First published
17 May 2023

Mater. Chem. Front., 2023,7, 3657-3667

Multifunctional nanomicelles constructed via an aggregation and de-aggregation strategy for magnetic resonance/NIR II fluorescence imaging-guided type I photodynamic therapy

L. Wang, J. Qi, K. Zhang, Z. Zhuang, K. Ding, X. Chen, H. Shan, D. Ding, A. Qin and B. Z. Tang, Mater. Chem. Front., 2023, 7, 3657 DOI: 10.1039/D3QM00347G

To request permission to reproduce material from this article, please go to the Copyright Clearance Center request page.

If you are an author contributing to an RSC publication, you do not need to request permission provided correct acknowledgement is given.

If you are the author of this article, you do not need to request permission to reproduce figures and diagrams provided correct acknowledgement is given. If you want to reproduce the whole article in a third-party publication (excluding your thesis/dissertation for which permission is not required) please go to the Copyright Clearance Center request page.

Read more about how to correctly acknowledge RSC content.

Social activity

Spotlight

Advertisements