From Spark to Flame: ROS- and Light-Cascade Activatable NIR-II AIE Probe for Precise Tumor Imaging and Self-Amplifying Phototherapy.

ABSTRACT: The development of photoactivatable theranostic probes represents a major focus in precision tumor therapy. However, those previously reported probes often suffer from limited photoresponsivity, short excitation/emission wavelengths, and inactivity in the absence of light, restricting their ability to precisely diagnose deep-seated tumors or enable effective phototherapy without auxiliary interventions. To address these challenges, this study designs a second near-infrared (NIR-II) aggregation-induced emission (AIE) theranostic probe based on a dihydroindole skeleton, featuring dual reactive oxygen species (ROS)- and NIR light-cascade activation. Upon ROS activation in the tumor microenvironment, TT-DHIn undergoes transformation into TT-In, exhibiting NIR-II fluorescence emission and photo

SUBMITTER: Chen X 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12806408 | biostudies-literature | 2026 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature