Fig. 2: Schematic and characterization of nanoprobes of GP-dAuNPs@Ce6.

a Irradiation time-dependent TEM images of GP-dAuNPs@Ce6 (405 nm, 1.0 W cm⁻²). Scale bars, 200 nm. b Corresponding irradiation time-dependent hydrodynamic size profiles of GP-dAuNPs@Ce6 (405 nm, 1.0 W cm⁻²). c Corresponding irradiation time-dependent absorption spectra of GP-dAuNPs@Ce6 (405 nm, 1.0 W cm⁻²). d Fluorescence intensity of 0.5 mg mL⁻¹ GP-dAuNPs@Ce6 with (+) and without laser irradiation (−). e The photothermal heating curves of PBS, non-aggregated GP-dAuNPs@Ce6 and aggregated GP-dAuNPs@Ce6 under the irradiation of 808-nm laser. f Evaluation of 1O² generation by PBS, free Ce6, non-aggregated GP-dAuNPs@Ce6 and aggregated GP-dAuNPs@Ce6 by using the SOSG assay. The concentration of Ce6 in each group is 25 µg mL⁻¹. g Chicken breast tissue thickness-dependent photoacoustic signals of 1.0 mg mL⁻¹ GP-dAuNPs@Ce6 or GP-dAuNPs@Ce6 with (+) and without laser irradiation (−), h Corresponding plots of photoacoustic intensity versus chicken breast tissue thickness (p = 0.0007). All imaging experiments were repeated three times with similar results. Statistical analysis was performed using a one-way ANOVA analysis. Error bars represent the standard deviation obtained from three independent measurements (*** means p < 0.001, n = 3). Data are presented as mean values ± SD. Source data are provided as a Source Data file.