Fig. 1

Polymeric prodrug nano-assembly entrapping AIEgen for combinational image-guided PDT/chemotherapy. a Reduction-sensitive paclitaxel prodrug (azido-SS-PTX) was grafted onto amphiphilic polymer by azide-alkyne click reaction to give a reduction-sensitive polymeric prodrug, poly(ethylene glycol)-b-poly(5-mthyl-5-propargyl-1,3-dioxan-2-one)-g-paclitaxel, PEG-b-PMPMC-g-PTX (PMP). The release mechanism of free paclitaxel from PMP can be ascribed to high intracellular concentrations of reducing agents, such as glutathione. b Amphiphilic polymer could self-assemble into micelles, and then encapsulate hydrophobic AIEgen into the core of micelles by hydrophobic effect. PM, PMP, TB@PM, and TB@PMP micelles were prepared by dialysis in aqueous solution, respectively. PMP (−), PMP (+), TB@PMP (−) can be used as chemotherapy groups, and TB@PM (+) can be used as PDT group. TB@PMP (+) was employed for combinational PDT/chemotherapy, while PM (−), PM (+), TB@PM (−) were employed for negative control. c TB@PMP micelles internalization and therapy process. Reduction-sensitive co-delivery system TB@PMP could targets tumor interstitial fluid in a passive manner via the EPR effect. After cleavage of disulfide bonds under high concentration of GSH in tumor cells, free paclitaxel was released to disrupt the microtubule. Meanwhile, TB generate cytotoxic ROS to damage the tumor cell under light irradiation