Upconverting LuVO₄:Nd³⁺/Yb³⁺/Er³⁺@SiO₂@Cu₂S Hollow Nanoplatforms for Self-monitored Photothermal Ablation

Self-monitored photothermal therapy (PTT) with minimal collateral damages has emerged as a challenging strategy for antibacterial and cancer treatments, which could be fulfilled via the rational integration of luminescent thermometry and photothermal ablation within a single upconverting (UC) nanoplatform. Herein, 808 nm light-driven dual-functional nanoplatforms LuVO4:Nd3+/Yb3+/Er3+@SiO2@Cu2S were successfully developed using olivelike LuVO4:Nd3+/Yb3+/Er3+ hollow nanoparticles as the thermal-sensing core and ultrasmall Cu2S nanoparticles as the photothermal satellite. Irradiated by 808 nm laser, thermal-sensing behaviors of samples were evaluated based on the high-purity Er3+ green emissions, while the surface-attached Cu2S exhibited superior photothermal effects due to the efficient absorption of incident laser and near-infrared emissions from the luminescent core. The feasibility of bifunctional samples acting as self-monitored photothermal agents in subtissues and antibacterial agents against drug-resistant bacteria was separately assessed. Results provide deeper insights into the desirable design of 808 nm-driven multifunctional nanoplatforms with intense UC emission, sensitive thermometry, and effective photothermal conversion toward self-monitored PTT with high therapeutic accuracy.