Photothermal-triggered release of singlet oxygen from an endoperoxide-containing polymeric carrier for killing cancer cells

A polymeric carrier containing a naphthalene and iridium(III) complex was developed to deliver extracellular singlet oxygen (1O2) into cancer cells to induce oxidative damage without intracellular O2 consumption. The release of 1O2 was triggered by the photothermal effect of Au nanorods upon irradiation at 808 nm, realizing controllable therapy combining both oxidative and photothermal damage.