Near-infrared chemiluminescent nanoprobes for deep imaging and synergistic photothermal-nitric-oxide therapy of bacterial infection

Abstract

Bacterial infection is the leading cause of many serious inflammation diseases threatening human health. Existing theranostic options for bacterial infection are always complicated and unsatisfactory. There is an increasing interest in developing a more effective theranostic approach for the treatment of infections. Herein, we report the development of a near-infrared (NIR) chemiluminescent (CL) nanoparticles ALPBs containing luminol, AIE dye (TTDC), PCPDTBT, and nitric oxide (NO) donor (BNN6), which could achieve a deep CL imaging-guided photothermal-NO gas therapy of bacterial infection. After intravenous injection, ALPBs could be largely accumulated in the infected site and then activated by oversecreted reactive oxygen species (ROS) to produce near-infrared chemiluminescence, which could precisely track infection-induced local inflammation. Under the guidance of imaging, synergistic photothermal-NO therapy was further performed by 808 nm laser irradiation, leading to active bacterial eradication and rapid recovery of infected tissues. The utility of ALPBs provides a powerful and controllable "all-in-one" platform for combating bacterial infection.

Keywords: Aggregation-induced emission; Bacterial infection; Chemiluminescence imaging; Nitric oxide therapy; Synergistic therapy.