Se-sensitized NIR hot band absorption photosensitizer for anti-Stokes excitation deep photodynamic therapy

Conventional anti-Stokes materials-involved deep photodynamic therapy(dPDT)requires much high-intensity irradiance due to low photosensitization efficiency.Herein,we proposed a"booster effector"approach to construct highly efficient hot band absorption phototherapeutics for low/biosafety power anti-Stokes light-triggered d PDT.Se,as"booster effector",was introduced into hot band absorption luminophores(HBAs),which not only significantly facilitated intersystem crossing,but also simultaneously enhanced hot band excitation efficiency atν808,as a result successfully enabling excellent photogenerated singlet oxygen capability of HBAs under ultra-low power anti-Stokes excitation(10 mW cm^(-2)in vitro).As far as we know,such low laser power-initiated photosensitization activity has never been reported in the existing anti-Stokes material systems.Importantly,FUC-Se ME can self-assemble into uniform nanospheres in water,greatly boosting cellular uptake(>25-fold larger than FUC-Se),and achieve superior cancer-killing effect(808 nm,10 mW cm^(-2),5 min,the half-maximal inhibitory concentration IC50=1.36μM).After further PEGylation with folate-attached polymer,the resultant FUC-Se ME@FA can effectively enrich at the tumor(signal-to-background ratio,10).Under safety irradiation(330 mW cm^(-2)),FUC-Se ME@FA effectively inhibits deep-seated tumor progression(the tumor growth inhibition rate,84%).This work provides a successful paradigm,possibly being more clinically beneficial than conventional anti-Stokes materials.