Polymer Dynamic Organic Theranostic Spheres for Photothermal Therapy and Fluorescent Imaging of Cancer

Abstract

Nanoparticle mediated photothermal ablation of cancer is a promising technique that utilizes light energy to destroy cancer cells. Specifically, nanoparticles that absorb in the near infrared (NIR) region of light, 700 - 900 nm, are optimal because these wavelengths are an absorption minimum for water, hemoglobin, and deoxygenated hemoglobin. As these wavelengths are where tissues are most transparent, NIR photothermal therapies allow for efficacious localized hyperthermia. Our lab has recently utilized poly[4,4-bis(2-ethylhexyl)-cyclopenta[2,1-b;3,4-b']dithiophene-2,6-diyl-alt−2,1,3-benzoselenadiazole-4,7-diyl] (PCPDTBSe), a conjugated polymer, to form nanoparticles capable of generating effective photothermal ablation when stimulated by NIR light.