“Dual‐Hit” Photothermal and Immunogenicity Activation by Structurally Simple Carbon Dots‐Doped Hydrogel

ABSTRACT Effective tumor treatment can only be achieved by combining short‐acting, localized therapy with long‐acting, systemic anti‐tumor immunogenicity. Herein, we report a “dual‐hit” synergistic photothermal‐immunotherapy based on a multifunctional carbon dot‐doped polymeric hydrogel with loaded oxaliplatin. Under laser irradiation, the hydrogel generates an initial photothermal ablation (“first‐hit”) while triggering OXA release. The released OXA induces potent immunogenic cell death and thereby activates long‐standing antitumor immune response (“second‐ICD, Therapy, carbon dots, hydrogel, photothermalhit”). This “dual‐hit” therapeutic strategy is successfully performed in tumor‐bearing mice.