Theranostic prodrugs are promising for cancer medicine; however, the inability to activate these systems exclusively at the desired tumor location compromises the specificity and efficacy of cancer treatment. Here, we developed a fluorescent theranostic nanoprodrug with synergistic hydrogen-sulfide-specific and near-infrared (NIR)-light-controllable activation for imaging-guided chemo-photothermal cancer therapy. This nanoprodrug system was fabricated by the inclusion of hydrogen sulfide (H2S)-activatable small molecule to the theranostic prodrug and a photothermal transducer in the interior of a NIR-light-responsive container. The resultant nanoprodrug could be activated specifically, evidenced by a “turn on” of NIR fluorescence in H2S-rich cancers; thus, enabling accurate cancer location and identification of when and where to implement NIR irradiation for efficient conversion of photoenergy into heat. Such a prominent photothermal effect guarantees photothermal ablation of cancers and the release of the H2S-preactivated DOX for cancer chemotherapy. By utilizing this H2S-responsive and NIR-light-controllable nanoprodrug, complete suppression of tumors was realized under the guidance of the NIR fluorescence imaging. Thus, our study provides a novel strategy toward theranostic prodrug systems that enable precision cancer treatment with high specificity and efficacy.

中文翻译：

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硫化氢特异性和近红外光可控的荧光治疗药物前体的协同活化，用于影像引导的化学光热癌治疗

治疗性前药有望用于癌症医学。然而，不能仅在所需的肿瘤位置激活这些系统会损害癌症治疗的特异性和功效。在这里，我们开发了一种荧光治疗药物纳米前药，具有协同作用的硫化氢特异性和近红外（NIR）光可控激活，用于成像引导的化学光热癌症治疗。该纳米前药系统是通过将可硫化氢（H2S）激活的小分子包含在治疗用前药中和在NIR光响应容器内部的光热传感器制成的。所产生的纳米前药可以被特异性激活，这在富含H2S的癌症中通过NIR荧光的“开启”来证明。从而，能够准确定位癌症并确定何时何地实施NIR辐射，以将光能有效转化为热量。如此显着的光热效应可确保癌症的光热消融，并释放用于癌症化学疗法的H2S预活化DOX。通过利用这种H2S响应和近红外光可控的纳米前药，在近红外荧光成像的指导下实现了对肿瘤的完全抑制。因此，我们的研究为治疗诊断的前药系统提供了一种新的策略，该系统能够以高的特异性和有效性进行精确的癌症治疗。通过利用这种H2S响应和近红外光可控的纳米前药，在近红外荧光成像的指导下实现了对肿瘤的完全抑制。因此，我们的研究为治疗诊断的前药系统提供了一种新的策略，该系统能够以高的特异性和有效性进行精确的癌症治疗。通过利用这种H2S响应和近红外光可控的纳米前药，在近红外荧光成像的指导下实现了对肿瘤的完全抑制。因此，我们的研究为治疗诊断的前药系统提供了一种新的策略，该系统能够以高的特异性和有效性进行精确的癌症治疗。