Synthesis of a Near-Infrared BODIPY Dye for Bioimaging and Photothermal Therapy

The development of robust photothermal agents for near-infrared (NIR) imaging is a great challenge. Herein, we report the design and synthesis of a new photothermal agent, based on the aza-boron-dipyrromethene framework (azaBDP). This compound possessed excellent photostability and high photothermal-conversion efficiency (50%) under NIR laser irradiation. When the photothermal properties of this compound were utilized for tumor inhibition, stable long-term fluorescence was observed in living animals. Photothermal treatment efficiently suppressed tumor growth, as evidenced by invitro and invivo experiments. Furthermore, NIR emission could be detected by using an imaging system and therapeutic self-monitoring was achieved by using NIR imaging.