Aggregation-Induced Emission-Integrated Chemiluminescent Probe for Tumor-specific Detection and Treatment

Near-infrared (NIR) chemiluminescent probes offer significant advantages for cancer imaging due to their high signal-to-noise ratios and deep tissue penetration. However, the integration of chemiluminescence (CL) units and aggregation-induced emission (AIE) components to enhance emission wavelength and combine diagnostics with therapeutics remains underexplored. Here, we present an innovative probe, H–C, formed by conjugating 10-hydroxycamptothecin (HCPT)--a natural product with anticancer activity and AIE properties--with a chemiluminescent unit. This design enhances emission through CL resonance energy transfer (CRET) efficiency, red-shifting the emission wavelength via charge transfer (CT) mechanism, and endows the chemiluminescent probe with AIE and chemotherapeutic properties. In vivo experiments demonstrate that the probe H–C not only monitors tumor growth in real-time but also effectively inhibits the proliferation and migration of cancer cells. This all-in-one strategy offers a pathway to achieve precisely targeted diagnosis and treatment of minimal residual disease after initial surgery or chemotherapy.