Simultaneous Activation of Short‐Wave Infrared (SWIR) Light and Paramagnetism by a Functionalized Shell for High Penetration and Spatial Resolution Theranostics

Nanoparticle emitting short‐wave infrared (SWIR) light has received increased attention in the molecular imaging field due to its deeper tissue penetration, fast imaging, high sensitivity, and resolution. The simultaneously activated SWIR excited directly by an 808 nm laser and T1‐weighted magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) signal are found in one single‐shell nanoparticle NaErF4@NaGdF4 (Er@Gd), which is used as a dual‐modality imaging contrast agent in vivo to accurately determine the position of tumors. The conjugated cypate is then aggregated on the surface of Er@Gd@SiO2‐Cy/bovine serum albumin. With the guidance of dual modality imaging, photothermal therapy is effectively used to ablate tumors in a mouse model. The design of single‐shell nanomaterial activation of SWIR imaging and MRI signals is expected to provide a new strategy for high penetration and spatial resolution cancer theranostics. This elaborate design of the synthesized nanomaterial, NaErF4@NaGdF4@SiO2‐Cy/bovine serum albumin, is successful in activating simultaneously short‐wave infrared imaging excited directly by a 808 nm laser and T1‐weighted magnetic resonance imaging to guide the photothermal therapy of tumors in mice with negligible toxicity, which is proved in this work, and is expected to lead to a better way of high penetration and resolution theranostic in diseases.