Ultra Electron-Donating Segment-Dependence of NIR-II Absorbing Aza-boron-dipyrromethenes for Photothermal-Photodynamic Phototherapy of Breast Cancer
Yiming Zhang, Dandan Ma, Yuanlang Guo, Te Li, Yunsheng Xue, Xin‐Dong Jiang, Xiaoqiang Chen, Gaowu Qin, Xiaojun Peng
Abstract
Since breast cancer often occurs in the upper quadrant, the use of the second near-infrared (NIR-II) light that penetrates deeper tissues and matches phototherapy agents is a prerequisite for true phototherapy treatment. NIR-II absorbing organic functional dye is an ideal choice for effective antitumor phototherapy. Herein, we developed a series of aza-BODIPYs ( NN-azaBDP s) with 1,4-dimethyl-1,2,3,4-tetrahydroquinoxaline ( NN ) as an ultra electron-donating group at 3,5-sites. CF 3 -NN bearing the D–A–A′ system absorbs at 990 nm and emits at 1240 nm in the NIR-II region. CF 3 -NN nanoparticles have fluorescence imaging capabilities in the NIR-II region and significant photothermal conversion efficiency (77.8%), and the twisted structure of the NN segment creates a basis for the generation of reactive oxygen species. NN-azaBDP s provide a platform for photothermal-photodynamic combined therapy for breast cancer.