journal article·2025-08-19

Tailoring Long-Lived Charge Separation Enables Efficient Light-to-Heat Conversion for Efficient Cancer Therapy

Wenjing Liu, Zhongyan Hu, Jianyu Zhang, Jing Zhao, Suyin Wang, Xianxiu Xu, Guangkui Xu, Guy M. Genin, Yixuan Shao, Lianrui Hu, Feng Xu, Guorui Jin, Ben Zhong Tang

ACS Nano· Volume 19· Issue 32
Publisher page

Abstract

Treating cancer with organic materials that absorb light and release heat offers the possibility of more targeted therapy with reduced side effects. However, the low photothermal conversion efficiency (PCE) in many organic materials means that high laser powers are needed, raising safety concerns and limiting clinical adoption. Here, we present a molecular design strategy that achieves excellent efficiency in converting light to heat for cancer treatment. By engineering molecules in which key chemical groups are locked at right angles, we created structures that can hold separated electrical charges for extended periods while efficiently converting this energy into heat. An embodiment of this material that we term MNTPAA achieved a PCE of 91.47% under near-infrared (NIR) light irradiation. In a mouse model of aggressive breast tumors, MNTPAA/NIR treatment not only eliminated the cancer but also stimulated the immune system against recurrence. This molecular engineering strategy provides an effective approach to constructing highly efficient light-activated materials. It facilitates the rational design of additional systems featuring long-lived charge separation states, supporting the development of versatile photothermal agents with enhanced therapeutic efficacy.
Source: openalex_inverted_index · Quality: baseline

Research context

OpenAlex topics: Nanoplatforms for cancer theranostics · Perovskite Materials and Applications · Luminescence and Fluorescent Materials

SciVX discovery tags are terminology-based. OpenAlex topics are source-provided classifications.

Affiliations

The Key Laboratory of Biomedical Information Engineering of Ministry of Education, School of Life Science and Technology

Xi’an Jiaotong University

Bioinspired Engineering and Biomechanics Center (BEBC)

College of Chemistry, Chemical Engineering and Materials Science

Shandong Normal University

State Key Laboratory of Biobased Transportation Fuel Technology, Department of Polymer Science and Engineering

Zhejiang University

Shaanxi Key Laboratory of Biomaterials and Synthetic Biology, Shaanxi R&D Center of Biomaterials and Fermentation Engineering, School of Chemical Engineering

Northwest University

Laboratory for Multiscale Mechanics and Medical Science, Department of Engineering Mechanics, SVL, School of Aerospace Engineering

NSF Science and Technology Center for Engineering Mechanobiology

Washington University in St. Louis

Shanghai Engineering Research Center of Molecular Therapeutics and New Drug Development, Shanghai Frontiers Science Center of Molecule Intelligent Syntheses, School of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering

East China Normal University

Guangdong Basic Research Center of Excellence for Aggregate Science, School of Science and Engineering

The Chinese University of Hong Kong

Funding

the Key Projects of the Xiangyang Innovation and Development Joint Fund of the Natural Science Foundation of Hubei Province

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