Aza-BODIPY dye with D-π-A architecture for 1064 nm laser-triggered photothermal theranostics

Organic dyes with absorption in the second near-infrared region (NIR-II, 1000–1700 nm) offer promising potential to combat deep-seated tumors through photothermal therapy (PTT). Herein, we synthesized a NIR-II absorbing aza-BODIPY dye, CNTPA, with donor-π-acceptor (D-π-A) architecture for photoacoustic imaging (PAI)-guided PTT under 1064 nm photoirradiation. When encapsulated in the amphiphilic polymer F-127, CNTPA nanoparticles (NPs) exhibited a remarkable photothermal conversion efficiency of 46.2 % under 1064 nm photoirradiation, along with remarkable photostability and biocompatibility. In vivo PAI studies showed that CNTPA NPs effectively accumulated in tumor tissues, reaching peak tumor enrichment at 24 h post-injection. In vitro and in vivo results confirmed that CNTPA NPs enabled efficient 1064 nm laser-triggered PAI-guided PTT, presenting a promising strategy for deep-tissue tumor treatment.