Conjugated Polymer‐Based Nanoparticles for Cancer Cell‐Targeted and Image‐Guided Photodynamic Therapy

Abstract

Abstract Multifunctional materials with cell imaging and therapeutic functions are anticipated to provide promising agents in cancer treatment. Herein, folic acid modified conjugated polymer nanoparticles (FA‐CPNs) are exploited to target cancer cells and destroy the neighboring cancer cells. Folic acid in FA‐CPNs enables the strong binding with high affinity to folate receptor, a cancer‐cell‐associated protein, to target cancer cells. FA‐CPNs are able to produce cytotoxic reactive oxygen species upon irradiation 600 nm light, and therefore cause the cell death of folate receptor‐overexpressed cancer cells effectively. Therefore, the conjugated polymer‐based nanoparticles provide a multifunctional system for targeting cancer cells and photodynamic therapy.