Molecularly Engineered NIR-II Emitting Carbon Dots Assemblies for Unprecedented High-Resolution Angiography and Synergistic Photodynamic/Photothermal Tumor Therapy

作     者：Xue, Xiaokuang Li, Jian Chen, Tiejin Cui, Minhui Liang, Huanyi Zhang, Yunxiu Xue, Mianqi Xiao, Haihua Ge, Jiechao Wang, Pengfei 

作者机构：Chinese Acad Sci Tech Inst Phys & Chem Beijing 100190 Peoples R China Chinese Acad Sci Beijing Natl Lab Mol Sci Lab Polymer Phys & Chem Inst Chem Beijing 100190 Peoples R China Univ Chinese Acad Sci Sch Future Technol Beijing 100049 Peoples R China 

出 版 物：《CHEMICAL ENGINEERING JOURNAL》 (Chem. Eng. J.)

年 卷 期：2025年第505卷

核心收录：

学科分类：0830[工学-环境科学与工程（可授工学、理学、农学学位）] 0817[工学-化学工程与技术] 08[工学] 

基　　金：National Natural Science Foundation of China National Key Research and Development Program of China [2022YFA1207600] 

主　　题：Carbon dots NIR-II imaging Angiography Phototherapy 

摘      要：Carbon dots (CDs) have recently gained attention in near-infrared (NIR, 700-1700 nm) bioimaging and image- guided tumor phototherapy due to their outstanding optical properties and favorable biocompatibility. However, constructing CDs for NIR-II fluorescence imaging-guided phototherapy remains challenging. In this study, we present molecularly engineered NIR-II emitting carbon dots assemblies (NECDs-A) for advanced NIR-II bioimaging and synergistic photodynamic therapy (PDT)/photothermal tumor therapy (PTT). By using terephthalaldehyde and pyrrole as specifically selected precursors, the resulting NECDs-A feature a large conjugated framework, with high graphitic nitrogen content and abundant surface carbonyl groups. These structural characteristics enable NECDs-A to exhibit NIR-II fluorescence emission, with a peak at 950 nm and a maximum wavelength extending beyond 1400 nm, achieving precise tumor visualization and high signal-to-noise ratio whole-body angiography. Additionally, the as-prepared NECDs-A demonstrate type-I photodynamic activity and a high photothermal conversion efficiency (eta = 45.3 %) under 808 nm laser irradiation. In vitro and in vivo studies confirm their ability to generate reactive oxygen species (ROS) and heat, leading to efficient image- guided tumor eradication without noticeable toxicity. This work provides a new example of NIR-II emitting CDs design strategies and their application in tumor phototherapy guided by NIR-II imaging.