Indocyanine green (ICG) – Menthol loaded cerasomal nanoparticles for ultrasound imaging and photothermal therapy against tumor

•The photothermal effect of ICG-MCNs could ablate tumor cells and trigger the tri-phase transition of L-menthol.•ICG-MCNs behaved better than SonoVue in maintaining ultrasound signal.•ICG-MCNs can serve as a multifunctional nanoplatform for ultrasound imaging and tumor therapy. Multifunctional ultrasound contrast agents (UCAs) combining ultrasonic diagnosis with tumor therapy have received enormous attentions in virtue of their good biocompatibility and high biological penetration ability. However, nanoscale UCAs with suitable size and good therapeutic effect remain to be developed in future studies. Herein, indocyanine green and L-menthol loaded hybrid cerasomes (ICG-MCNs) was fabricated as a multifunctional theranostic nanoplatform, which exhibited high structure stability and photo-stability in aqueous. Mutual assistance with the photothermal effect of ICG, heating triggered tri-phase transition of L-menthol could produce continuous gas microbubbles for enhanced ultrasound imaging. Thus, the resultant ICG-MCNs is anticipated to be a competent candidate for US imaging and photothermal therapy.