Amphiphilic conjugated polymer was designed and utilized as nanocarriers without further general encapsulation using PEGylated materials for photothermal therapy (PTT) and chemotherapy. These nanocarriers have maximum absorption in ideal phototherapeutic window between 800 and 850 nm and excellent photothermal conversion efficiency of 76% at 808 nm. It provides the simultaneous therapy of chemotherapy and PTT with the monitoring of photoacoustic imaging. After combined therapy via tail vein injection, complete remission and no recurrence of tumors can be observed over a course of 20 days, indicating these amphiphilic NPs has great potential for NIR photoacoustic imaging-guided photothermal and chemo combined therapy.
Keywords: amphiphilic conjugated polymer; combination therapy; near-infrared; photothermal therapy.