biostudies-literatureHao YCentral Guidance Fund for Science and Technology DevelopmentFundamental Research Funds for the Central UniversitiesNational Natural Science Foundation of ChinaOpen Funds of the State Key Laboratory of Chemo and Biosensing, Hunan University68https://www.ebi.ac.uk/biostudies/studies/S-EPMC12831401biostudies-literatureUnknown24(1)Carbon quantum dot (CQD)-based nanozymes have attracted growing interest for advanced biomedical applications owing to their superior catalytic activity, photostability, and biocompatibility. However, the rational design of a multifunctional nanoplatform that integrates active targeting, multimodal imaging, and synergistic therapy through a green and sustainable approach remains highly challenging. Herein, we report a facile and environmentally benign solvothermal strategy for the synthesis of ruthenium-doped CQD nanozymes (Ru-CQDs) functionalized with AS1411 aptamers and polyethylene glycol (PEG), denoted as Ru-CQDs-AS1411@PEG. This eco-friendly synthesis avoids toxic reagents and harsh conditions while yielding highly uniform and biocompatible nanozymes. The obtained Ru-CQDs-AS1411@PEG eJournal of nanobiotechnologyAptamer-engineered NIR-II Ru-doped carbon quantum dot nanozyme for photoacoustic imaging-guided synergistic photothermal and catalytic cancer therapy.PMC1283140121705101, 222740902020JCPT022025-0937-13YDZJSX2021A004, YDZJSX2022C00222204102Li CShuang SDing DChen YHao YWang HWang ZDong CGong XfalseAptamer-engineered NIR-II Ru-doped carbon quantum dot nanozyme for photoacoustic imaging-guided synergistic photothermal and catalytic cancer therapy.Carbon quantum dot (CQD)-based nanozymes have attracted growing interest for advanced biomedical applications owing to their superior catalytic activity, photostability, and biocompatibility. However, the rational design of a multifunctional nanoplatform that integrates active targeting, multimodal imaging, and synergistic therapy through a green and sustainable approach remains highly challenging. Herein, we report a facile and environmentally benign solvothermal strategy for the synthesis of ruthenium-doped CQD nanozymes (Ru-CQDs) functionalized with AS1411 aptamers and polyethylene glycol (PEG), denoted as Ru-CQDs-AS1411@PEG. This eco-friendly synthesis avoids toxic reagents and harsh conditions while yielding highly uniform and biocompatible nanozymes. The obtained Ru-CQDs-AS1411@PEG e2025-01-01T00:00:00Z2025 Dec2026-06-06T22:32:29.312Z2026-06-06T03:10:32.852ZS-EPMC128314014142224810.1186/s12951-025-03919-5