This review focuses on the versatile applications of near-infrared (NIR)-responsive smart carriers in biomedical applications, particularly drug delivery and photothermal chemotherapy. These carriers demonstrate multi-responsive theranostics capabilities, including pH-dependent drug release, targeted delivery of chemotherapeutics, heat-mediated drug release, and photothermal tumor damage. Biological samples are transparent to NIR light with a suitable wavelength, and therefore, NIR light is advantageous for deep-tissue penetration. It also generates sufficient heat in tissue samples, which is beneficial for on-demand NIR-responsive drug delivery in vivo systems. The development of biocompatible materials with sufficient NIR light absorption properties and drug-carrying functionality has shown tremendous growth in the last five years. Thus, this review offers insights into the current research development of NIR-responsive materials with therapeutic potential and prospects aimed at overcoming challenges to improve the therapeutic efficacy and safety in the dynamic field of NIR-responsive drug delivery.

中文翻译：

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用于光热化疗的近红外响应“智能”载体的综述

本综述重点关注近红外（NIR）响应智能载体在生物医学应用中的多功能应用，特别是药物输送和光热化疗。这些载体表现出多响应治疗诊断能力，包括 pH 依赖性药物释放、化疗药物的靶向递送、热介导的药物释放和光热肿瘤损伤。生物样品对合适波长的近红外光是透明的，因此近红外光有利于深层组织穿透。它还在组织样本中产生足够的热量，这有利于体内系统的按需近红外响应药物输送。具有足够的近红外光吸收特性和载药功能的生物相容性材料的开发在过去五年中显示出巨大的增长。因此，这篇综述对具有治疗潜力的近红外响应材料的当前研究进展和前景提供了见解，旨在克服挑战，提高近红外响应药物递送动态领域的治疗效果和安全性。