Cited by 14Nanoplatforms for cancer theranosticsPhotodynamic Therapy Research StudiesLuminescence and Fluorescent Materials

Synergistic Comprehensive Activation Methods for Dual‐Modality PDT and Hypoxia‐Triggered Chemotherapy Guided by NIR‐II Imaging beyond 1700 nm in Deep Tumors

Open access
Chen, Haoran, Liu, Shengnan, Wang, Wang, Long, Fei, Li, Qiqing, Gan, Dechao, Li, Xiaodan, Li, Bin +3 more·2025·Small

Abstract

Although photodynamic therapy (PDT) holds great promise for applications in cancer treatment, it has limited effectiveness against deep hypoxic tumors. Moreover, the lack of visualization guidance for precision theranostics poses additional challenges, hindering its broader clinical adoption. By combining NIR‐IIc (1800 nm) imaging guidance with internally and externally activatable dual‐modality PDT and hypoxia‐triggered chemotherapy, this study proposes a conceptual framework to overcome these limitations. This approach involves the use of photoswitchable lanthanide‐doped nanoparticles featuring Tm 3+‐activated upconversion/downshifting emissions coupled with carboxyl‐terminated Ir(III) complex‐based Type I/II photosensitizer to form a nanophotosensitizer. The findings demonstrate that this system enabled NIR‐IIc imaging guidance upon 808/980 nm excitation while selectively activating external PDT under 980 nm irradiation, thereby ensuring accurate therapy and minimizing phototoxicity risk. The Ir(III) complex conjugates with luminol to form a self‐illuminating Type I/II photosensitizer, which can respond to the elevated H 2 O 2 levels in the tumor microenvironment, effectively catalyzing chemiluminescence‐assisted PDT. Moreover, PDT aggravates tumor hypoxia, which in turn activates the hypoxia‐activatable prodrugs like tirapazamine, resulting in a synergistic antitumor effect. With NIR‐IIc imaging‐guided dual‐modality PDT, this study introduces a groundbreaking approach that unites Type I/II PDT with chemotherapy, significantly advancing the precise and effective treatment of deep hypoxic tumors.

The claims and statistics of this paper haven’t been checked yet.

Run the check — free, no account needed. It reads the open-access text and checks the sources it cites.

A few free checks a day · papers already verified open instantly · results are public

Integrity signals

Registry

Crossref · 10.1002/smll.202500553

Cites

42 of 42 references verified0 citation errors · 0 not checkable

Statistics

Claims the paper makes

The claims and statistics of this paper haven’t been checked yet.

Run the check — free, no account needed. It reads the open-access text and checks the sources it cites.

A few free checks a day · papers already verified open instantly · results are public

Claims other papers make about this one

Each is checked against this paper’s own text: does it say what the citing paper says it does?

  • Biomedical application of metal complexes is hindered by a reliance on high-energy, short-wavelength excitation, leading to phototoxicity and poor tissue penetration.

    “Nevertheless, their biomedical application is hindered by a reliance on high-energy, short-wavelength excitation, which leads to phototoxicity and poor tissue penetration.”

    From Organic small-molecule NIR-II fluorophores for tumor phototheranostics (2026) · cites this paper as [198]

    The Introduction says most clinical photosensitizers are activated by UV–visible light, which is attenuated in tissue, and that traditional photosensitizer-based imaging risks photosensitive toxicity. The Results and Discussion describe an Ir(III) complex photosensitizer, but the paper does not establish that metal complexes generally rely on short-wavelength excitation or that such excitation causes the toxicity it describes. Page numbers were not available in our copy. (LLM, conf=0.83)

    Experimental — accuracy not yet measured
  • Metal complexes are promising photofunctional materials due to superior photostability, large Stokes shifts, and high emission quantum yields compared to organic chromophores.

    “Metal complexes are promising photofunctional materials due to their superior photostability, large Stokes shifts, and high emission quantum yields compared to organic chromophores”

    From Organic small-molecule NIR-II fluorophores for tumor phototheranostics (2026) · cites this paper as [198]

    The Results and Discussion describes an Ir(III) complex used as a photosensitizer that emits fluorescence and generates reactive oxygen species, supporting its photofunctional use. It does not establish superior photostability, large Stokes shifts, or higher emission quantum yields relative to organic chromophores; searches for those properties and that comparison found no supporting passage. Page numbers were not available in our copy. (LLM, conf=0.81)

    Experimental — accuracy not yet measured

Self-check

Percentages, sums and reported differences re-computed from the paper’s own numbers.

The self-check needs the paper’s full text.

Cites

Flagged first, then by citations

Research works printed but not linked: 41

  1. S. Chen, B. Li, Y. Yue, Z. Li, L. Qiao, G. Qi, Y. Ping, B. Liu, Adv. Mater. 2024, 36, 2404296;
  2. X. Kang, Y. Zhang, J. Song, L. Wang, W. Li, J. Qi, B. Z. Tang, Nat. Commun. 2023, 14, 5216.
  3. C. Chen, C. Wu, J. Yu, X. Zhu, Y. Wu, J. Liu, Y. Zhang, Coordin. Chem. Rev. 2022, 461, 214495.
  4. H. Abrahamse, M. R. Hamblin, Biochem. J. 2016, 473, 347.
  5. D. Chen, Q. Xu, W. Wang, J. Shao, W. Huang, X. Dong, Small 2021, 17, 2006742.
  6. R. A., H. Wang, C. Nie, Z. Han, M. Zhou, O. O. Atinuke, K. Wang, X. Wang, S. Liu, J. Zhao, W. Qiao, X. Sun, L. Wu, X. Sun, Nat. Com- mun. 2023, 14, 6644;
  7. H. Guo, Z. Cao, J. Li, Z. Fu, S. Lin, L. Wang, J. Liu, ACS Nano 2023, 17, 5059;
  8. D. Kang, H. S. Kim, S. Han, Y. Lee, Y. P. Kim, D. Y. Lee, J. Lee, Nat. Commun. 2023, 14, 2755;
  9. S. Zeng, J. Chen, R. Gao, R. Chen, Q. Xue, Y. Ren, L. Liu, C. Tang, H. Hu, N. Zeng, S. Wen, H. Zhang, C. Liu, C. Fang, Adv. Mater. 2023, 36, 2308780.
  10. Y. Yu, L. Xiang, X. Zhang, L. Zhang, Z. Ni, Z. H. Zhu, Y. Liu, J. Lan, W. Liu, G. Xie, G. Feng, B. Z. Tang, Adv. Sci. 2023, 10, 2302395;
  11. Y. Xu, R. Liu, H. Yang, S. Qu, L. Qian, Z. Dai, ACS Appl. Mater. Interfaces 2022, 14, 25197;
  12. R. Zhao, X. Liang, B. Zhao, M. Chen, R. Liu, S. Sun, X. Yue, S. Wang, Biomaterials 2018, 173, 58;
  13. Y. Q. Zhang, W. L. Liu, X. J. Luo, J. P. Shi, Y. Z. Zeng, W. L. Chen, W. H. Huang, Y. Y. Zhu, W. L. Gao, R. H. Li, Z. H. Ming, L. X. Zhang, R. Q. Yang, J. Z. Wang, G. J. Zhang, Adv. Sci. 2023, 10, 2205294;
  14. X. Zhang, C. Li, Y. Zhang, X. Guan, L. Mei, H. Feng, J. Li, L. Tu, G. Feng, G. Deng, Y. Sun, Adv. Funct. Mater. 2022, 32, 2207259.
  15. N. Zhang, K. P. Francis, A. Prakash, D. Ansaldi, Nat. Med. 2013, 19, 500;
  16. D. Mao, W. Wu, S. Ji, C. Chen, F. Hu, D. Kong, D. Ding, B. Liu, Chem 2017, 3, 991;
  17. C. Wu, M. Cui, L. Cai, C. Chen, X. Zhu, Y. Wu, J. Liu, H. Wang, Y. Zhang, ACS Appl. Mater. Interfaces 2022, 14, 13094;
  18. D. Wang, B. Xue, T. Y. Ohulchanskyy, Y. Liu, A. Yakovliev, R. Ziniuk, M. Xu, J. Song, J. Qu, Z. Yuan, Biomaterials 2020, 251, 120088;
  19. Q. Wang, Y. Dai, J. Xu, J. Cai, X. Niu, L. Zhang, R. Chen, Q. Shen, W. Huang, Q. Fan, Adv. Funct. Mater. 2019, 29, 1901480;
  20. H. Chen, F. Wu, X. Xie, W. Wang, Q. Li, L. Tu, B. Li, X. Kong, Y. Chang, ACS Nano 2021, 15, 20643.
  21. Y. Chang, H. Chen, X. Xie, Y. Wan, Q. Li, F. Wu, R. Yang, W. Wang, X. Kong, Nat. Commun. 2023, 14, 1079;
  22. Z. Feng, Y. Li, S. Chen, J. Li, T. Wu, Y. Ying, J. Zheng, Y. Zhang, J. Zhang, X. Fan, X. Yu, D. Zhang, B. Z. Tang, J. Qian, Nat. Commun. 2023, 14, 5017;
  23. Y. Zhong, Z. Ma, F. Wang, X. Wang, Y. Yang, Y. Liu, X. Zhao, J. Li, H. Du, M. Zhang, Q. Cui, S. Zhu, Q. Sun, H. Wan, Y. Tian, Q. Liu, W. Wang, K. C. Garcia, H. Dai, Nat. Biotechnol. 2019, 37, 1322;
  24. Z. Feng, T. Tang, T. Wu, X. Yu, Y. Zhang, M. Wang, J. Zheng, Y. Ying, S. Chen, J. Zhou, X. Fan, D. Zhang, S. Li, M. Zhang, J. Qian, Light Sci. Appl. 2021, 10, 197.
  25. Y. Chen, S. Wang, F. Zhang, Nat. Biomed. Eng. 2023, 1, 60;
  26. M. B. Liisberg, S. Lahtinen, A. B. Sloth, T. Soukka, T. Vosch, J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2021, 143, 19399.
  27. Y. C. Chen, Y. J. Liu, C. L. Lee, K. Y. Pham, D. Manoharan, S. Thangudu, C. H. Su, C. S. Yeh, Adv. Healthcare Mater. 2022, 11, 2201613;
  28. H. An, C. Guo, D. Li, R. Liu, X. Xu, J. Guo, J. Ding, J. Li, W. Chen, J. Zhang, ACS Appl. Mater. Interfaces 2020, 12, 17230;
  29. Y. Yang, S. Wang, L. Lu, Q. Zhang, P. Yu, Y. Fan, F. Zhang, Angew. Chem., Int. Ed. 2020, 59, 18380.
  30. J. Ding, G. Lu, W. Nie, L. L. Huang, Y. Zhang, W. Fan, G. Wu, H. Liu, H. Y. Xie, Adv. Mater. 2021, 33, 2005562;
  31. C. Liu, X. Wang, J. Liu, Q. Yue, S. Chen, J. W. Y. Lam, L. Luo, B. Z. Tang, Adv. Mater. 2020, 32, 2004685.
  32. R. Ding, X. Liu, W. Zhang, X. Chen, S. Chen, X. Yu, Z. Zhao, K. Li, Adv. Funct. Mater. 2024, 34, 405499;
  33. J. Bonelli, E. Ortega-Forte, G. Vigueras, J. Follana-Berná, P. Ashoo, D. Abad-Montero, N. Isidro, M. López-Corrales, A. Hernández, J. Ortiz, E. Izquierdo-García, M. Bosch, J. Rocas, Á. Sastre-Santos, J. Ruiz, V. Marchán, ACS Appl. Mater. Interfaces 2024, 16, 38916.
  34. S. Liu, H. Chen, Q. Wu, Y. Sun, Y. Pei, Z. Wang, D. Zhu, G. Li, M. R. Bryce, Y. Chang, Inorg. Chem. 2024, 63, 16404.
  35. L. Xia, X. Kong, X. Liu, L. Tu, Y. Zhang, Y. Chang, K. Liu, D. Shen, H. Zhao, H. Zhang, Biomaterials 2014, 35, 4146.
  36. M.-K. So, A. M. Loening, S. S. Gambhir, J. Rao, Nat. Protoc. 2006, 1, 1160.
  37. J. Wu, W. Liu, S. Tang, S. Wei, H. He, M. Ma, Y. Shi, Y. Zhu, S. Chen, X. Wang, ACS Appl. Mater. Interfaces 2024, 16, 56850;
  38. E. Lavagna, Z. P. Güven, D. Bochicchio, F. Olgiati, F. Stellacci, G. Rossi, Nanoscale 2021, 13, 16879;
  39. Y. Huang, H. Liu, Y. Zhao, H. Chen, Q. Li, X. Li, S. Hua, D. Cao, Y. Chang, RSC Adv. 2024, 14, 20152.
  40. Z. Liu, R. J. Deeth, J. S. Butler, A. Habtemariam, M. E. Newton, P. J. Sadler, Angew. Chem., Int. Ed. 2013, 52, 4194;
  41. Z. Liu, I. Romero- Canelón, B. Qamar, J. M. Hearn, A. Habtemariam, N. P. E. Barry, A. M. Pizarro, G. J. Clarkson, P. J. Sadler, Angew. Chem., Int. Ed. 2014, 53, 3941.

Cited by

Sorted by citations

Authors
Chen, H., Liu, S., Wang, W., Long, F., Li, Q., Gan, D., Li, X., Li, B., Kong, X., Li, D., & Chang, Y.
Affiliations
  • Chinese Academy of Sciences (CN)
  • School of Pharmacy Shenyang Pharmaceutical University 103 Wenhua Road Shenhe District Shenyang Liaoning 110016 P. R. China
  • First Hospital of Jilin University (CN)
Corresponding author
Chang, Yulei
Venue
Small
Publisher
Wiley
Published
2025-04-08
Volume
21
Issue
21
Pages
e2500553-e2500553
ISSN
  • 1613-6810 (ISSN-L)
  • 1613-6829
OpenAlex
W4409307870
Cited by
14
References
42
Citations by year
2026: 9 · 2025: 5
FWCI
3.43
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Small (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Funders
  • China Postdoctoral Science Foundation (2023M741350, 2023M733432)
  • Changchun Science and Technology Bureau (23GZZ06)
  • National Natural Science Foundation of China (62075217, 62475262, 62305329, 22172154, 12404496)
  • National Key Research and Development Program of China (2021YFA0715603)
Topics
  • Physical Sciences › Engineering › Biomedical Engineering › Nanoplatforms for cancer theranostics
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Pulmonary and Respiratory Medicine › Photodynamic Therapy Research Studies
  • Physical Sciences › Materials Science › Materials Chemistry › Luminescence and Fluorescent Materials
Keywords
photodynamic therapy, NIR-II imaging, lanthanide-doped nanoparticles, tirapazamine, chemodynamic therapy, image-guided therapy
MeSH terms
Animals, Humans, Infrared Rays, Neoplasms, Photochemotherapy, Photosensitizing Agents, Cell Line, Tumor, Mice, Nanoparticles, Tumor Microenvironment

About these checks

Registry, retraction, Cites and statistics results are computed, not judged, with one exception: a printed reference that no index lists is read once by a model before it counts as a citation error. Claims are extracted by a model and kept only when their quote appears verbatim in the text; each cited source is then checked, with a model’s help, for whether it says what the claim relies on. Those verdicts can be wrong — read the claim’s quote and the cited source before relying on one.

Statistics and arithmetic are recomputed, not judged.

Confidence bands are shown only for fields calibrated on our annotated test set. None is calibrated yet, so no band is shown.

What counts as a claim ›How we measure confidence ›How we check this ›

Are you an author, or do you see a problem with this page? Request a review