The Midas Touch by Iridium: A Second Near-Infrared Aggregation-Induced Emission-Active Metallo-Agent for Exceptional Phototheranostics of Breast Cancer
Abstract
Developing small organic molecular phototheranostic agents with second near-infrared (NIR-II) aggregation-induced emission (AIE) is paramount for the phototriggered diagnostic imaging and synchronous in situ therapy of cancer via an excellent balance of the excited states energy dissipations. In this study, a multifunctional iridium(III) complex is exploited by the coordination of an AIE-active N^N ancillary ligand with a trivalent iridium ion. The resultant complex DPTPzIr significantly outperforms its parent ligand in terms of absorption/emission wavelengths, reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, and photothermal conversion, which simultaneously endow DPTPzIr nanoparticles with matched absorption peak to commercial 808 nm laser, the longest NIR-II emission peak (above 1100 nm) among those previously reported AIE iridium(III) complexes, potentiated type-I ROS generation, and as high as 60.5% of photothermal conversion efficiency. Consequently, DPTPzIr nanoparticles perform well in multimodal image-guided photodynamic therapy-photothermal therapy for breast cancer in tumor-bearing mice, enabling precise tumor diagnosis and complete ablation with high biocompatibility. Our present work provides a simple, feasible, and effective paradigm for the development of advanced phototheranostic agents.
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DSPE-mPEG2000-encapsulated DPTPzIr NPs displayed an absorption maximum at 810 nm, demonstrating excellent spectral overlap with commercially available 808 nm laser.
“DSPE-mPEG2000-encapsulated DPTPzIr NPs displayed an absorption maximum at 810 nm, demonstrating excellent spectral overlap with commercially available 808 nm laser.”
From Organic small-molecule NIR-II fluorophores for tumor phototheranostics (2026) · cites this paper as [245]
DPTPzIr NPs achieved a remarkably high PCE of 60.5% and exhibited potent •OH generation capability upon laser irradiation, which was beneficial to overcoming tumor hypoxia.
“Moreover, DPTPzIr NPs achieved a remarkably high PCE of 60.5% and exhibited potent •OH generation capability upon laser irradiation, which was beneficial to overcoming tumor hypoxia.”
From Organic small-molecule NIR-II fluorophores for tumor phototheranostics (2026) · cites this paper as [245]
Upon 808 nm laser irradiation, the tumor temperature was effectively elevated to 59.5 °C, resulting in complete tumor ablation through the synergistic action of PDT and PTT.
“Upon 808 nm laser irradiation, the tumor temperature was effectively elevated to 59.5 °C, resulting in complete tumor ablation through the synergistic action of PDT and PTT.”
From Organic small-molecule NIR-II fluorophores for tumor phototheranostics (2026) · cites this paper as [245]
Relative to the parent ligand, DPTPzIr exhibited a significant emission red-shift to 1100 nm, accompanied by marked enhancements in ROS generation yield and PCE.
“Relative to the parent ligand, DPTPzIr exhibited a significant emission red-shift to 1100 nm, accompanied by marked enhancements in ROS generation yield and PCE.”
From Organic small-molecule NIR-II fluorophores for tumor phototheranostics (2026) · cites this paper as [245]
In 4T1 tumor-bearing murine models, DPTPzIr NPs enabled NIR-II fluorescence/PA/photothermal trimodal imaging, with the signal intensity reaching its maximum 36 h post injection.
“In 4T1 tumor-bearing murine models, DPTPzIr NPs enabled NIR-II fluorescence/PA/photothermal trimodal imaging, with the signal intensity reaching its maximum 36 h post injection.”
From Organic small-molecule NIR-II fluorophores for tumor phototheranostics (2026) · cites this paper as [245]
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Organic small-molecule NIR-II fluorophores for tumor phototheranostics
Xiang, D., Wang, Z., Zheng, H., Tang, Y., & Li, Q. (2026) · Light: Science & Applications · doi:10.1038/s41377-026-02212-w · Cited by 22 · see citing works
“26c) 245 .”
- Authors
- You, C., Tian, L., Zhu, J., Wang, L., Tang, B. Z., & Wang, D.
- Affiliations
- Shenzhen University (CN)
- Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shenzhen (CN)
- Corresponding author
- Wang, Dong
- Venue
- Journal of the American Chemical Society
- Publisher
- American Chemical Society (ACS)
- Published
- 2025-01-07
- Volume
- 147
- Issue
- 2
- Pages
- 2010-2020
- ISSN
- 0002-7863 (ISSN-L)
- 1520-5126
- OpenAlex
- W4406115797
- Cited by
- 87
- References
- 52
- Citations by year
- 2026: 50 · 2025: 37
- FWCI
- 18.27
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Licence
- Locations
- Journal of the American Chemical Society (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Rare & Special e-Zone (The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology) (submittedVersion)
- Funders
- Science and Technology Foundation of Shenzhen City (20220809130438001)
- National Natural Science Foundation of China (22175120, 52122317)
- Medical-Engineering Interdisciplinary Research Foundation of Shenzhen University (2023YG021)
- Pearl River Talent Recruitment Program (2019QN01Y103)
- Research Team Cultivation Program of Shenzhen University (2023QNT003)
- Topics
- Physical Sciences › Materials Science › Materials Chemistry › Luminescence and Fluorescent Materials
- Physical Sciences › Engineering › Biomedical Engineering › Nanoplatforms for cancer theranostics
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Pulmonary and Respiratory Medicine › Photodynamic Therapy Research Studies
- Keywords
- phototheranostics, aggregation-induced emission, iridium(III) complexes, breast cancer, photothermal conversion, photodynamic therapy, reactive oxygen species generation, multimodal imaging, tumor ablation
- MeSH terms
- Theranostic Nanomedicine, Photothermal Therapy, Animals, Antineoplastic Agents, Breast Neoplasms, Female, Humans, Infrared Rays, Iridium, Reactive Oxygen Species, Cell Line, Tumor, Mice, Coordination Complexes
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