Ferric Ion‐Driven Chlorin E6 Nanoparticles: Simple and Effective Multimodal Theranostics

Abstract Theranostics integrating therapeutic power and imaging exhibit great prospects in precision medicine. It is a big challenge to develop simple and selective theranostic systems for potential clinical translation. Herein the Fe (III) driven assembly of chlorin E6 (Ce6) is reported to form multifunctional nanoparticles. The resulting Fe‐Ce6 NPs possess high loading content of photosensitizer Ce6, red‐shifted absorption, good colloidal stability, and photostability, and robust photothermal performance. After cellular internalization, Fe‐Ce6 NPs can respond to intracellularly enriched glutathione to release Ce6, thus priming photodynamic therapy (PDT) effect, fluorescence, and afterglow luminescence. In vitro and in vivo results prove that Fe‐Ce6 NPs remarkably enhance the tumor regression through photothermal therapy and in situ PDT. This study provides a facile and efficient method to construct versatile nanotheranostics for tumor treatment.