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Updated: Jun 23, 2025

Near Infrared Photoimmunotherapy for Mouse Models of Pleural Dissemination
Published on: February 9, 2021
Lysosome-Targeted and pH-Activatable Phototheranostics for NIR-II Fluorescence Imaging-Guided Nasopharyngeal
Zelong Li1, Sha Yang1,2, Hao Xiao1
1Department of Hepatopancreatobiliary Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital & Center for Molecular Imaging Probe & Hunan Engineering Research Center for Early Diagnosis and Treatment of Liver Cancer, Cancer Research Institute, Hengyang Medical School, University of South China, Hengyang, Hunan 421001, China.
Abstract:
Currently, clinical therapeutic strategies for nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) confront insurmountable dilemmas in which surgical resection is incomplete and chemotherapy/radiotherapy has significant side effects. Phototherapy offers a maneuverable, effective, and noninvasive pattern for NPC therapy. Herein, we developed a lysosome-targeted and pH-responsive nanophototheranostic for near-infrared II (NIR-II) fluorescence imaging-guided photodynamic therapy (PDT) and photothermal therapy (PTT) of NPC. A lysosome-targeted S-D-A-D-S-type NIR-II phototheranostic molecule (IRFEM) is encapsulated within the acid-sensitive amphiphilic DSPE-Hyd-PEG2k to form IRFEM@DHP nanoparticles (NPs). The prepared IRFEM@DHP exhibits a good accumulation in the acidic lysosomes for facilitating the release of IRFEM, which could disrupt lysosomal function by generating an amount of heat and ROS under laser irradiation. Moreover, the guidelines of NIR-II fluorescence enhance the accuracy of PTT/PDT for NPC and avoid damage to normal tissues. Remarkably, IRFEM@DHP enable efficient antitumor effects both in vitro and in vivo, opening up a new avenue for precise NPC theranostics.

