Journal Article

Aggregation induced emission luminogen bacteria hybrid bionic robot for multimodal phototheranostics and immunotherapy

Wang, Deliang, Chen, Yuling, Li, Ying, Zhu, Liwei, Song, Jiayi, Li, Guoxin, Zhang, Wentian, Song, Guangjie, Wu, Yifan, Tang, Ben Zhong

2025

Overview

Multimodal phototheranostics utilizing single molecules offer a “one-and-done” approach, presenting a convenient and effective strategy for cancer therapy. However, therapies based on conventional photosensitizers often suffer from limitations such as a single photosensitizing mechanism, restricted tumor penetration and retention, and the requirement for multiple irradiations, which significantly constrain their application. In this report, we present an aggregation-induced emission luminogen (AIEgen) bacteria hybrid bionic robot to address above issues. This bionic robot is composed of multifunctional AIEgen (INX-2) and Escherichia coli Nissle 1917 (EcN), i.e., EcN@INX-2. The EcN@INX-2 bionic robot exhibits near-infrared II (NIR-II) fluorescence emission and demonstrates efficient photodynamic and photothermal effects, as well as tumor-targeting capabilities. These features are facilitated by the complementary roles of INX-2 and EcN. The robot successfully enables in vivo multimodal imaging and therapy of colon cancer models in female mice through various mechanisms, including the activation of anti-tumor immunity, as well as photodynamic and photothermal therapy. Our study paves an avenue for designing multifunctional diagnostic agents for targeted colon cancer therapy through image-guided combinational immunotherapy. The utility of photosensitizers for cancer therapies is often hindered by a single photosensitizing mechanism, the need of multiple irradiations, and limited tumor penetration and retention. Here, the authors address these issues by developing an aggregation-induced emission luminogen bacteria hybrid bionic robot that enables multimodal imaging and therapy and activates anti-tumor immunity.

• Publisher: Nature Publishing Group UK,Nature Publishing Group,Nature Portfolio
• Subject: 14 / 14/63 / 631/326/41/2537 / 631/67/1059/2325 / 639/925/352/2733 / 96/31 / Animal models / Animals / Bacteria / Bionics / Bionics - methods / Cancer therapies / Cell Line, Tumor / Colon cancer / Colonic Neoplasms - diagnostic imaging / Colonic Neoplasms - therapy / Colorectal cancer / Diagnostic agents / E coli / Emission / Emissions / Escherichia coli - chemistry / Escherichia coli - metabolism / Female / Humanities and Social Sciences / Humans / Immunity / Immunotherapy / Immunotherapy - methods / Medical imaging / Mice / Mice, Inbred BALB C / multidisciplinary / Near infrared radiation / Photochemotherapy - methods / Photosensitization / Photosensitizing Agents / Phototherapy - methods / Retention / Robotics - methods / Robots / Science / Science (multidisciplinary) / Theranostic Nanomedicine - methods / Therapy / Tumors