Citation: Siyi Hu, Wenze Zhang, Zhigang Ni, Liang Tian, Jiangwei Tian, Hua Lu, Lizhi Gai. NIR-Ⅱ PTT and PA agents achieved by engineering D-A-D structure based on aza-BODIPY for tumor treatment[J]. Chinese Chemical Letters, ;2026, 37(6): 111523. doi: 10.1016/j.cclet.2025.111523 shu

NIR-Ⅱ PTT and PA agents achieved by engineering D-A-D structure based on aza-BODIPY for tumor treatment

Siyi Hu ^{a, 1} ,
Wenze Zhang ^{b, 1} ,
Zhigang Ni ^a ,
Liang Tian ^a ,
Jiangwei Tian ^{b, *,} ,
Hua Lu ^{a, *,} ,
Lizhi Gai ^{a, *,}

a.
College of Material, Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Key Laboratory of Organosilicon Chemistry and Material Technology, Ministry of Education, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou 311121, China
b.
State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines, Jiangsu Key Laboratory of TCM Evaluation and Translational Research, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 211198, China

jwtian@cpu.edu.cn

hualu@hznu.edu.cn

lizhigai@hznu.edu.cn

Received Date: 2 May 2025
Revised Date: 26 June 2025
Accepted Date: 27 June 2025
Available Online: 27 June 2025

Figures(4)

Near-infrared Ⅱ (NIR-Ⅱ) absorbing dye have garnered significant attention for deep-tissue tumor phototherapy and photoacoustic (PA) imaging. However, NIR-Ⅱ dyes often suffer from poor photostability due to extensive conjugated systems, and J-aggregation type typically exhibit narrow absorption spectra, posing significant challenges in matching laser wavelengths. In this work, we propose a mechanism where charge transfer (CT)-type J aggregation, driven by enhanced intramolecular charge transfer, enables the broad NIR-Ⅱ absorption peak and high photostability. The resulting dyes exhibit strong NIR-Ⅱ absorption, low dark toxicity and high phototoxicity as well as improved biocompatibility. Upon 1064 nm excitation, BDP2-NPs achieve a photothermal conversion efficiency of 34.2% and a maximum temperature of 47 ℃, indicating moderate photothermal performance. In addition, PA imaging was assessed by different laser wavelength. This study underscores the potential of aza-boron-dipyrromethene (aza-BODIPY)-based dyes for developing advanced NIR-Ⅱ agents in photothermal therapy and PA imaging.
- Aza-BODIPY,
- J-aggregation,
- NIR-Ⅱ absorption,
- Photothermal therapy,
- Photoacoustic imaging
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