Glycosylated AIE‐active Red Light‐triggered Photocage with Precisely Tumor Targeting Capability for Synergistic Type I Photodynamic Therapy and CPT Chemotherapy

Abstract

Photocaging is an emerging protocol for precisely manipulating spatial and temporal behaviors over biological activity. However, the red/near‐infrared light‐triggered photolysis process of current photocage is largely singlet oxygen (1O2)‐dependent and lack of compatibility with other reactive oxygen species (ROS)‐activated techniques, which has proven to be the major bottleneck in achieving efficient and precise treatment. Herein, we reported a lactosylated photocage BT‐LRC by covalently incorporating camptothecin (CPT) into hybrid BODIPY‐TPE fluorophore via the superoxide anion radical (O2−•)‐cleavable thioketal bond for type I photodynamic therapy (PDT) and anticancer drug release. Amphiphilic BT‐LRC could be self‐assembled into aggregation‐induced emission (AIE)‐active nanoparticles (BT‐LRCs) owing to the regulation of carbohydrate‐carbohydrate interactions (CCIs) among neighboring lactose units in the nanoaggregates. BT‐LRCs could simultaneously generate abundant O2−• through the aggregation modulated by lactose interactions, and DNA‐damaging agent CPT was subsequently and effectively released. Notably, the type I PDT and CPT chemotherapy collaboratively amplified the therapeutic efficacy in HepG2 cells and tumor‐bearing mice. Furthermore, the inherent AIE property of BT‐LRCs endowed the photocaged prodrug with superior bioimaging capability, which provided a powerful tool for real‐time tracking and finely tuning the PDT and photoactivated drug release behavior in tumor therapy.