Photothermal therapy (PTT) represents a groundbreaking approach to targeted disease treatment by harnessing the conversion of light into heat. The efficacy of PTT heavily relies on the capabilities of photothermal agents (PTAs). Among PTAs, those based on organic dyes exhibit notable characteristics such as adjustable light absorption wavelengths, high extinction coefficients, and high compatibility in biological systems. However, a challenge associated with organic dye-based PTAs lies in their efficiency in converting light into heat while maintaining stability. Manipulating dye aggregation is a key aspect in modulating non-radiative decay pathways, aiming to augment heat generation. This review delves into various strategies aimed at improving photothermal performance through constructing aggregation. These strategies including protecting dyes from photodegradation, inhibiting non-photothermal pathways, maintaining space within molecular aggregates, and introducing intermolecular photophysical processes. Overall, this review highlights the precision-driven assembly of organic dyes as a promising frontier in enhancing PTT-related applications. This article is categorized under: Therapeutic Approaches and Drug Discovery > Emerging Technologies Therapeutic Approaches and Drug Discovery > Nanomedicine for Oncologic Disease Diagnostic Tools > In Vivo Nanodiagnostics and Imaging.
Keywords: aggregation‐enhanced photothermal therapy; assembly; cancer therapy; organic dyes; phototheranostics.
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