NIR light-induced imaging-guided
cancer therapy is an encouraging route in the
cancer theranostic field. Herein, we describe a novel nanoscale proposal, which is established by covalently implanting core-shell structured upconversion nanoparticles (UCNPs) with nanographene
oxide (NGO) by a process utilizing
polyethylene glycol (PEG), and consequently loading
Chlorin e6 (Ce6) onto the surface of NGO. The acquired NGO-UCNP-Ce6 (NUC) nanocomposites can not only be employed as upconversion luminescence (UCL) imaging probes of cells and whole-body animals with high contrast for diagnosis, but also can generate
reactive oxygen species (ROS) under 808 nm light excitation for
photodynamic therapy (
PDT); over and above, they can swiftly and proficiently translate the 808 nm photon into thermal energy for
photothermal therapy (PTT). An extraordinarily enhanced and synchronized
therapeutic effect paralleled to the individual PTT or
PDT is achieved, rendering extraordinary therapeutic effectiveness for
cancer treatment. Consequently, profiting from this inimitable multifunctional nanohybrid, the NUCs synthesized here are encouraging as a cohesive
theranostic probe for impending UCL imaging-guided combinatorial
PDT/PTT.