Supramolecular Photothermal Nanomaterials as an Emerging Paradigm toward Precision Cancer Therapy

Abstract

The concept of the “supramolecular photothermal effects” refers to the collection property and photothermal conversion efficiency resulting from the supramolecular assembly of molecular photothermal sensitizers. This review considers organic supramolecular photothermal materials assembled at the nanoscale via various molecular self‐assembly strategies and associated with the organization of multiple noncovalent interactions. In these materials, the individual photosensitizer molecules are typically aggregated through self‐assembly in a certain form that exhibits enhanced biostability, increased photothermal conversion efficiency with photoluminescence quenching, and improved photothermal therapeutic effects in comparison with those of the monomeric photosensitizer molecules. These supramolecular photothermal effects are controlled or influenced by intermolecular noncovalent interactions, especially the hydrophobic effects, which are distinct from the mechanisms of conventional sensitizer molecules and polymers and inorganic photothermal agents. A focus lies on how self‐assembly strategies give rise to supramolecular photothermal effects, including polymer and protein fabrication, small molecule self‐assembly, and the construction of donor–acceptor binary systems. Emphases are placed on the rational design of supramolecular photothermal nanomaterials, drug delivery, and in vivo photothermal therapeutic effects. Finally, the key challenges and promising prospects of these supramolecular photothermal nanomaterials in terms of both technical advances and clinical translation are discussed.

Achieving High‐Performance Photothermal and Photodynamic Effects upon Combining D–A Structure and Nonplanar Conformation

“…since the NIR irradiation can provide high penetration and minimal invasion. [ 14 ] In comparison to inorganic counterparts, organic nanoagents have various advantages including adjustable absorption wavelength, good biodegradability, low cost, and rapid metabolism in biological tissue [ 15 ] . Among them, conjugated polymers are dominant in this filed, [ 16,17 ] although they are relatively difficult to be synthesized and purified, resulting in difference from batch to batch and difficulty in controlling the quality.…”

Kinetically Controlled Self-Assembly of Phthalocyanine–Peptide Conjugate Nanofibrils Enabling Superlarge Redshifted Absorption

“…Organic dye materials with near-infrared absorption are highly attractive in photoelectric devices, optical diagnostics, and therapeutics due to their inherent advantages of low cost, narrow and tunable energy levels, and high compatibility. [1][2][3][4][5][6] Supramolecular assembly of simple organic dye molecules for the construction of nearinfrared materials may lead to redshifted absorption through J-aggregation of chromophores, which has the potential to achieve absorption in the near-infrared region in a way that is much more convenient and flexible than conventional molecular synthesis. [7][8][9] Ideally, obtaining materials with near-infrared absorption requires a redshift larger than 100 nm.…”

Hydrogels: soft matters in photomedicine

“…430 In a typical PTT treatment of the infected tissue, a photothermally active agent can selectively heat and kill off the abnormal cells or tissue. 431,432 A selection of photoactive materials used for PTT is compiled in Figure 16, while the respective hydrogel systems are listed in Table S4. In our context, one classic example from Kopelman's group is a hydrogel nanoparticle based on polymeric PAA with coomassie brilliant blue-G (69) as a conjugated photothermal agent (introduced as the crosslinker in form of a N-(3aminopropyl) methacrylamide hydrochloride derivative) against the human cervical cancer cell line (HeLa) cells .…”