Biometabolizable Conjugated Polymers for Photothermal Therapy under the Guidance of Dual-Modal Imaging of Prostate Cancer

As photothermal drugs can convert external light energy into heat energy to kill tumor cells, they have gained avid attention in the field of tumor therapy in recent years. In this study, we designed and prepared a conjugated polymer photothermal agent for prostate cancer by modifying PEG-CY7 on the surface of the conjugated polymer. This study demonstrated that upon excitation by an 808 nm laser, conjugated polymers exhibit good photothermal conversion ability and high thermal stability. Moreover, this conjugated polymer exhibited excellent biocompatibility and high cellular uptake. In in vivo experiments, through dual-modal imaging, we confirmed that the conjugated polymer can effectively accumulate in the tumor tissue and also be eliminated by the normal metabolism of the organism, avoiding toxic side effects. In addition, the conjugated polymer exhibited a good antitumor photothermal and laser-mediated treatment effect in the tumor-bearing mouse model. Thus, our synthesis of conjugated polymers is a promising treatment strategy for prostate cancer.