Upconversion NIR-II fluorophores for mitochondria-targeted cancer imaging and photothermal therapy

Nat Commun. 2020 Dec 3;11(1):6183. doi: 10.1038/s41467-020-19945-w.

Abstract

NIR-II fluorophores have shown great promise for biomedical applications with superior in vivo optical properties. To date, few small-molecule NIR-II fluorophores have been discovered with donor-acceptor-donor (D-A-D) or symmetrical structures, and upconversion-mitochondria-targeted NIR-II dyes have not been reported. Herein, we report development of D-A type thiopyrylium-based NIR-II fluorophores with frequency upconversion luminescence (FUCL) at ~580 nm upon excitation at ~850 nm. H4-PEG-PT can not only quickly and effectively image mitochondria in live or fixed osteosarcoma cells with subcellular resolution at 1 nM, but also efficiently convert optical energy into heat, achieving mitochondria-targeted photothermal cancer therapy without ROS effects. H4-PEG-PT has been further evaluated in vivo and exhibited strong tumor uptake, specific NIR-II signals with high spatial and temporal resolution, and remarkable NIR-II image-guided photothermal therapy. This report presents the first D-A type thiopyrylium NIR-II theranostics for synchronous upconversion-mitochondria-targeted cell imaging, in vivo NIR-II osteosarcoma imaging and excellent photothermal efficiency.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Cell Death
  • Durapatite / chemistry
  • Fluorescent Dyes / chemical synthesis
  • Fluorescent Dyes / chemistry*
  • Infrared Rays*
  • Luminescence
  • Mice, Nude
  • Mitochondria / metabolism*
  • Molecular Conformation
  • Neoplasms / diagnostic imaging*
  • Optical Imaging*
  • Photothermal Therapy*
  • Polyethylene Glycols / chemistry
  • Spectrometry, Fluorescence
  • Treatment Outcome

Substances

  • Fluorescent Dyes
  • Polyethylene Glycols
  • Durapatite