Macrotheranostic Probe with Disease-activated Near-infrared Fluorescence, Photoacoustic and Photothermal Signals for Imaging-guided Therapy

Abstract

Theranostics provides opportunities for precision cancer therapy. However, theranostic systems that simultaneously turn on their diagnostic signal and pharmacological action only in respond to targeted biomarker have been less exploited. We herein report the synthesis of a smart macrotheranostic probe that specifically turns on near‐infrared fluorescence, photoacoustic and photothermal signals in the presence of cancer‐overexpressed enzyme for imaging‐guided cancer therapy. Supervisor to the small‐molecule counterpart probe, the macrotheranostic probe has an ideal biodistribution and renal clearance, permitting passive targeting of tumor, in‐situ enzymatic activation of multimodal signals, and effective photothermal therapy. Our study thus provides a macromolecular approach towards activatable multimodal phototheranostics.