Photothermal-triggered release of singlet oxygen from an endoperoxide-containing polymeric carrier for killing cancer cells

Abstract

A polymeric carrier containing a naphthalene and iridium(III) complex was developed to deliver extracellular singlet oxygen (¹O₂) into cancer cells to induce oxidative damage without intracellular O₂ consumption. The release of ¹O₂ was triggered by the photothermal effect of Au nanorods upon irradiation at 808 nm, realizing controllable therapy combining both oxidative and photothermal damage.