Increasing Photothermal Efficacy by Simultaneous Intra‐ and Intermolecular Fluorescence Quenching

Abstract Recently, using in situ self‐assembly‐induced fluorescence quenching (i.e., intermolecular quenching denoted herein) of a photothermal agent (PTA) to enhance its photothermal efficiency has proven to be a successful photothermal therapy (PTT) strategy. But to the best of current knowledge, using simultaneous intra‐ and intermolecular fluorescence quenching of a PTA to additionally increase its photothermal efficacy has not been reported. Herein, employing a click condensation reaction and a rationally designed PTA Biotin‐Cystamine‐Cys‐Lys(Cypate)‐CBT ( 1 ), a “smart” strategy is developed of intracellular simultaneous intra‐ and intermolecular fluorescence quenching and applied it to largely increase the photothermal efficacy of the agent both in vitro and in vivo. After being internalized by biotin receptor‐overexpressing cancer cells, 1 is reduced by intracellular glutathione to initiate a CBT‐Cys condensation reaction (intramolecular quenching) and self‐assembly (intermolecular quenching) to form the nanoparticles 1‐NPs (simultaneous intra‐ and intermolecular fluorescence quenching). Experimental results indicate that 1‐NPs have higher fluorescence quenching efficiency than the control PTAs [Thiazole‐Lys(Cypate)‐Benzothiazole] 2 ( 1‐Dimer , intramolecular quenching), and nanoparticles of Cystamine‐Cys(Fmoc)‐Lys(Cypate)‐CBT ( 1‐Fmoc‐NPs , intermolecular quenching). It is envisioned that, by replacing the biotin group on 1 with other targeting warheads, the “smart” strategy is ready to increase the photothermal therapeutic efficiency of their corresponding diseases.