biostudies-literatureSun RState Key Laboratory of Radiation Medicine and ProtectionNational Natural Science Foundation of ChinaMajor Research PlanNatural Science Foundation of Jiangsu Province2369-2378https://www.ebi.ac.uk/biostudies/studies/S-EPMC9977396biostudies-literatureUnknown14(9)Spatiotemporally manipulating the <i>in situ</i> immobilization of theranostic agents within cancer cells to improve their bioavailability is highly significant yet challenging in tumor diagnosis and treatment. Herein, as a proof-of concept, we for the first time report a tumor-targetable near-infrared (NIR) probe DACF with photoaffinity crosslinking characteristics for enhanced tumor imaging and therapeutic applications. This probe possesses great tumor-targeting capability, intensive NIR/photoacoustic (PA) signals, and a predominant photothermal effect, allowing for sensitive imaging and effective photothermal therapy (PTT) of tumors. Most notably, upon 405 nm laser illumination, DACF could be covalently immobilized within tumor cells through a photocrosslinking reaction between photolabChemical scienceA tumor-targetable NIR probe with photoaffinity crosslinking characteristics for enhanced imaging-guided cancer phototherapy.PMC9977396GZK12021322207709291959123GZK120214081902913BK20190821GZK1202017Zhao MWang AZhu JSun RZhang YGao YCheng XShi HfalseA tumor-targetable NIR probe with photoaffinity crosslinking characteristics for enhanced imaging-guided cancer phototherapy.Spatiotemporally manipulating the <i>in situ</i> immobilization of theranostic agents within cancer cells to improve their bioavailability is highly significant yet challenging in tumor diagnosis and treatment. Herein, as a proof-of concept, we for the first time report a tumor-targetable near-infrared (NIR) probe DACF with photoaffinity crosslinking characteristics for enhanced tumor imaging and therapeutic applications. This probe possesses great tumor-targeting capability, intensive NIR/photoacoustic (PA) signals, and a predominant photothermal effect, allowing for sensitive imaging and effective photothermal therapy (PTT) of tumors. Most notably, upon 405 nm laser illumination, DACF could be covalently immobilized within tumor cells through a photocrosslinking reaction between photolab2023-01-01T00:00:00Z2023 Mar2025-04-04T20:18:14.518Z2025-02-19T02:21:41.229ZS-EPMC99773963687383610.1039/d2sc06413h