biostudies-literatureLi YFundamental Research Funds for the Central UniversitiesNational Key R&D Program of ChinaFund of Key Laboratory of Luminescence from Molecular Aggregates of Guangdong ProvinceOpen Research Project of Military Logistics Support DepartmentNational Natural Science Foundation of ChinaNatural Science Foundation of Guangdong Provincee2102561https://www.ebi.ac.uk/biostudies/studies/S-EPMC8655165biostudies-literatureUnknown8(23)Photodynamic therapy (PDT) has become a promising candidate for cancer theranostics; however, traditional photosensitizers (PSs) usually exhibit weak fluorescence and poor reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation efficiency when aggregated. Recently, aggregation-induced emission (AIE) luminogens have shown great potential in the development of novel PSs owing to their excellent aggregation-induced ROS generation (AIG-ROS) activity. However, there are still concerns that must be addressed. In this study, two near-infrared (NIR) emitters (PI and PTI) are synthesized with AIG-ROS characteristic. PTI exhibit a valuable redder emission with more effective intersystem crossing (ISC) process than PI. The two AIE-active PSs show excellent lipid droplet (LD)-specific targeting ability. The detailedAdvanced science (Weinheim, Baden-Wurttemberg, Germany)Trojan Horse-Like Nano-AIE Aggregates Based on Homologous Targeting Strategy and Their Photodynamic Therapy in Anticancer Application.PMC8655165BLB19J0082019ZD042020A151501154221975077516031272017YFE01322002019B03030100321788102Zhang WLi YWan QHou JMa YTang BZZhang RHu RWang ZfalseTrojan Horse-Like Nano-AIE Aggregates Based on Homologous Targeting Strategy and Their Photodynamic Therapy in Anticancer Application.Photodynamic therapy (PDT) has become a promising candidate for cancer theranostics; however, traditional photosensitizers (PSs) usually exhibit weak fluorescence and poor reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation efficiency when aggregated. Recently, aggregation-induced emission (AIE) luminogens have shown great potential in the development of novel PSs owing to their excellent aggregation-induced ROS generation (AIG-ROS) activity. However, there are still concerns that must be addressed. In this study, two near-infrared (NIR) emitters (PI and PTI) are synthesized with AIG-ROS characteristic. PTI exhibit a valuable redder emission with more effective intersystem crossing (ISC) process than PI. The two AIE-active PSs show excellent lipid droplet (LD)-specific targeting ability. The detailed2021-01-01T00:00:00Z2021 Dec2026-05-08T22:28:27.527Z2022-02-11T13:49:53.197ZS-EPMC86551653467212210.1002/advs.202102561