A NIR-II emissive theranostic nanomedicine with mitochondrial-biomimetic coating for imaging-guided phototherapy of pancreatic tumors.

The deep-seated nature of pancreatic cancer and paucity of effective interventions render it a particularly devastating malignancy, highlighting the need for precise imaging-guided theranostic strategies. Here, we have developed a mitochondrial-biomimetic, second near-infrared (NIR-II) emissive theranostic nanomedicine (mNPs) based on a rationally engineered boron-dipyrromethene derivative for imaging-guided synergistic phototherapy. The mNPs were coated with homologous mitochondrial membranes to enhance cellular internalization and mitochondrial targeting. Upon NIR laser irradiation, the mNPs displayed intense NIR-II emission, effective reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, and remarkable photothermal activity, achieving a photothermal conversion efficiency of 77.1%. The strong NIR-II emission enabled real-time tumor visualization and guided therapeutic intervention. In vivo studies demonstrated complete tumor eradication without recurrence, accompanied by immunogenic cell death and favorable biosafety. This work presents a mitochondrial-biomimetic NIR-II nanoplatform for precise imaging-guided phototherapy of pancreatic tumors.