AIE-Based Theranostic Probe for Sequential Imaging and Killing of Bacteria and Cancer Cells

Cancer initiation and progression is closely related to bacterial infection, which usually requires the simultaneous use of anticancer drugs and antibiotics in the clinic. However, the multiple use of chemodrugs significantly increases potential adverse effects. To tackle this challenge, theranostic agents with image-guided dual therapy functions are highly desirable to treat both cancer and bacterial infection. Here, it is found that the aggregation-induced emission (AIE)-Mito-triphenylphosphonium (TPP) probe with AIE characteristics quickly kills Gram-positive Staphylococcus aureus and Gram-negative E. coli by increasing bacterial membrane permeability, and it subsequently kills cancer cells by disrupting mitochondrial functions. The sequential killing of bacteria and cancer cells can be monitored in situ using the turn-on fluorescence of the AIE-Mito-TPP probe with a high signal-to-noise ratio. Therefore, the AIE-Mito-TPP probe is promising for imaging-guided precise treatment of bacterial infection and related cancers.