A new push-pull aza-BODIPY (AZB-CF3) derivative comprised of dimethylamino groups and trifluoromethyl moieties was successfully synthesized. This derivative exhibited broad absorption in the near-infrared region in the range from 798 to 832 nm. It also exhibited significant near-infrared (NIR) signals in low-polar solvents with emission peaks around 835-940 nm, while non-fluorescence in high-polar environments due to the twisted intramolecular charge transfer (TICT) phenomenon. The nanoprecipitation of this compound with phospholipid-based polyethylene glycol (DSPE-PEG) yielded AZB-CF3@DSPE-PEG nanoparticles (NPs) with a hydrodynamic size of 70 nm. The NPs exhibited good photostability, colloidal stability, biocompatibility, and excellent photothermal (PTT) competence with a conversion efficiency (η) of 44.9%. These NPs were evaluated in vitro and in ovo in a 4T1 breast cancer cell line for NIR light-trigger photothermal therapy. Proven in the chicken egg tumor model, AZB-CF3@DSPE-PEG NPs induced severe vascular damage (∼40% vascular destruction), showed great anticancer efficacy (∼75% tumor growth inhibition), and effectively inhibited distant metastasis via photothermal treatment. As such, this PTT-based nanocarrier system could be a potential candidate for a clinical cancer therapy approach.
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