Minimizing the Heat Effect of Photodynamic Therapy Based on Inorganic Nanocomposites Mediated by 808 nm Near-Infrared Light

Photodynamic therapy (PDT) based on photosensitizers (PSs) constructed with nanomaterials has become popular in cancer treatment, especially oral carcinoma cell. This therapy is characterized by improved PS accumulation in tumor regions and generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) for PDT under specific excitation. In the selection of near-infrared (NIR) window, 808 nm NIR light because it can avoid the absorption of water is particularly suitable for the application in PDT. Hence, multiband emissions under a single 808 nm near-infrared excitation of Nd³⁺-sensitized upconversion nanoparticles (808 nm UCNPs) have been applied for the PDT effect. 808 nm UCNPs serve as light converter to emit UV light to excite inorganic PS, graphitic carbon nitride quantum dots (CNQDs), thereby generating ROS. In this study, a nanocomposite consisting UCNPs conjugated with poly-l-lysine (PLL) to improve binding with CNQDs is fabricated. According to the research results, NIR-triggered nanocomposites of 808 nm UCNP-PLL@CNs have been verified by significant improvement in ROS generation. Consequently, 808 nm UCNP-PLL@CNs exhibit high capability for ROS production and efficient PDT in vitro and in vivo. Moreover, the mechanism of PDT treatment by 808 nm UCNP-PLL@CNs is evaluated using the cell apoptosis pathway.