A feasible strategy for preparing an all-in-one theranostic nanoplatform

Abstract The facile construction of an appropriate all-in-one multifunctional agent is still a major challenge for precise cancer therapy. Poly-2-phenyl-benzobisthiazole (PPB) is a new polymer with high photothermal efficiency but poor hydrophilicity. Herein, we precisely used Fe(III) to crosslink the pectin (Pe) chain, as well as to initiate the copolymerization of dicyanobenzene and 2,5-dimercapto-1,4-phenylenediamine to obtain PPB. The obtained theranostic agent Pe-PPB compounded the pectin chain with PPB chain, which well resolved its water solubility. The complexed Fe(III) of Pe-PPB had good magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) signal. Additionally, Pe-PPB has good photoacoustic imaging (PAI) signal and excellent photothermal performance.