Review

Conjugated polymer nanomaterials for theranostics

Cheng-gen QIAN, Yu-lei CHEN, Pei-jian FENG, Xuan-zhong XIAO, Mei DONG, Ji-cheng YU, Quan-yin HU, Qun-dong SHEN, Zhen GU
DOI: 10.1038/aps.2017.42

Abstract

Conjugated polymer nanomaterials (CPNs), as optically and electronically active materials, hold promise for biomedical imaging and drug delivery applications. This review highlights the recent advances in the utilization of CPNs in theranostics. Specifically, CPN-based in vivo imaging techniques, including near-infrared (NIR) imaging, two-photon (TP) imaging, photoacoustic (PA) imaging, and multimodal (MM) imaging, are introduced. Then, CPN-based photodynamic therapy (PDT) and photothermal therapy (PTT) are surveyed. A variety of stimuli-responsive CPN systems for drug delivery are also summarized, and the promising trends and translational challenges are discussed.
Keywords: conjugated polymer; theranostics; biomedical imaging; photodynamic therapy; photothermal therapy; stimuli-responsive drug delivery

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