Unadulterated Organic Nanoparticles with Small Sizes for Robust Tumor Imaging and Photothermal Treatment

Phototheranostics integrating optical imaging and phototherapy have attracted massive attention in the context of precise tumor therapy. However, most of the reported phototheranostic systems have large sizes and complex structures due to either the extraneous carriers or cargos. Herein, the organic nanoparticles (terrylenediimide (TDI) NPs) are obtained from a TDI-based single component in the absence of additives. The as-prepared TDI NPs possess favorable small sizes of less than 20 nm, good photothermal stability, and high photothermal conversion efficiency. Especially, TDI NPs have the capacity for rapid and lasting tumor imaging, and effective photothermal therapy of cervical cancer upon irradiation. This work provides an alternative method to prepare multifunctional nanomaterials with simple structures, and sheds light on the potential applications of dye molecules as intrinsic theranostic agents.