Near-infrared-II light excitation thermosensitive liposomes for photoacoustic imaging-guided enhanced photothermal-chemo synergistic tumor therapy

Despite the great success of photothermal therapy (PTT), it still suffers from many obstacles, such as the limited penetration depth of light, thermoresistance of tumors, and limitations of mono-therapeutic modalities. Herein, second near-infrared (NIR-II, 1064 nm) light excitation thermosensitive liposomes (DG@TLs) were fabricated for photoacoustic imaging (PAI) guided enhanced PTT-chemotherapy. DG@TLs were constructed by encapsulating NIR-II light excitation semiconducting polymers into liposomes composed of phase change materials (PCMs), along with gambogic acid (GA) with chemotherapeutic and heat shock protein inhibition effects. Under 1064 nm laser irradiation, DG@TLs exhibited superior NIR-II PAI and PTT performances with deep tissue penetration while triggering the thermoresponsive release of GA based on the phase transition of PCMs from solid to liquid. The released GA could enhance the NIR-II PTT efficacy by inhibiting the activity of HSP90, reducing the thermoresistance of tumors, exhibiting significant chemotherapeutic effects, and achieving synergistic anti-tumor efficiency. This work provides a new strategy for achieving on-demand drug release and effective theranostics in deep-seated tumor regions.