Dual‐Triggered Near‐Infrared Persistent Luminescence Nanoprobe for Autofluorescence‐Free Imaging‐Guided Precise Therapy of Rheumatoid Arthritis

Abstract Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a common, chronic, and highly disabling autoimmune disease characterized by difficult treatment, long disease duration, and easy recurrence. The development and application of high‐sensitivity theranostic probes for RA that will facilitate precise monitoring of disease progression and enable effective treatment are currently hotspots in the field of RA theranostics. In this study, mZMI@HA, a dual‐triggered theranostics nanoprobe, is constructed based on near‐infrared persistent luminescence nanoparticles (NIR‐PLNPs) for precise RA treatment and therapeutic evaluation. This is the first reported use of high‐sensitivity autofluorescence‐free imaging based on NIR‐PLNPs for precise RA treatment and therapeutic evaluation. Compared with the NIR fluorescence imaging probe‐indocyanine green, the signal‐to‐background ratio of persistent luminescence (PersL) imaging is improved nearly 14‐fold. Using PersL imaging to guide photothermal therapy and controllable drug release through NIR/pH‐responsiveness, the progress of collagen‐induced RA is relieved. Additionally, the therapeutic evaluation of RA by PersL imaging is consistent with clinical micro‐computed tomography and histological analyses. This study demonstrates the potential of NIR‐PLNPs for high‐sensitivity imaging‐guided RA treatment, providing a new strategy for RA precise theranostics.