Thermoresponsive Nanogel‐Encapsulated PEDOT and HSP70 Inhibitor for Improving the Depth of the Photothermal Therapeutic Effect

Photothermal therapy (PTT), a new, noninvasive treatment measure, has recently drawn much attention. However, due to the limited penetration depth of near‐infrared (NIR) light, PTT is focused on treating superficial tumors. Improving the depth of the therapeutic effect is a bottleneck for successful PTT. To solve this problem, a new kind of nanoplatform (Nanogel+phenylethynesulfonamide (PES)) is fabricated by using a thermo‐responsive polymer shell (poly(N‐isopropylacrylamide‐co‐acrylic acid) to encapsulate 2‐PES, an effective heat shock protein 70 (HSP70) inhibitor, and poly(3,4‐ethylenedioxythiophene), a widely used photothermal coupling agent. Upon NIR irradiation, PES can be released from the Nanogel+PES when a thermo‐responsive phase transition occurs, which could restrain the function of HSP70 and reduces the cells' endurance to heat. In this way, a better therapeutic effect on deeper tissues is achieved with a relatively small rise in temperature. Therefore, with the advantages of the thermo‐responsive photothermal effect, coupled with the inhibition of HSP70, and minimal cytotoxicity, the Nanogel+PES appears to be a promising photothermal agent that can improve the depth of the PTT effect.