Photoresponsive biomimetic protocells for near-infrared-light- regulated phototheranostics

Abstract

Nature has created complex living systems with outstanding structure and remarkable function. Constructing biomimetic systems that rival living organisms has attracted considerable research interest in research fields of self-assembly and bionic science. Inspired by the composition of photosynthetic bacteria, we have designed artificial photoresponsive protocells through capsulation of upconversion nanoparticles@black phosphorus quantum dots (UCNPs@BPQDs) within aptamer-modified liposome (Apt-Lip) to form UCNPs@BPQDs@Apt-Lip (UBAL). The UBAL protocells with near-infrared-lightharvesting capability actively and efficiently convert light energy into chemical and heat energy. Furthermore, the successful application of the protocells to malignant tumors in vivo exhibited near-infraredlight- mediated targeted combined photodynamic and photothermal synergistic therapy. Our demonstration of operative protocells not only represents a method for fabricating light-harvesting systems based on nanoassembly, but also provides a promising step toward photosynthetic protocells with integrated cell-like structure and light-harvesting function for nanomedicine.