Metabolically targeted NIR-II theranostic nanoplatform enabling efficient synergistic phototherapy and chemotherapy for Alveolar echinococcosis

Alveolar echinococcosis (AE) is a malignant tumor-like parasitic disease whose treatment is limited by poor lesion accessibility and insufficient chemotherapeutic efficacy. Herein, a metabolic-targeted NIR-II theranostic nanoplatform was rationally designed to integrate photothermal therapy (PTT), photodynamic therapy (PDT), and chemotherapy for AE treatment. The Au@Si@ABZSO/ICG@P nanoparticles (ASAIP NPs) feature a gold nanorod core for efficient photothermal conversion, a mesoporous silica layer for co-loading albendazole sulfoxide (ABZSO) and indocyanine green (ICG), and a poly (lactic-co-glycolic acid) shell enabling preferential hepatic lesion accumulation via metabolic affinity. NIR-II fluorescence imaging allows accurate lesion visualization and guides spatiotemporally controlled therapy. Under photothermal activation, on-demand ABZSO release is achieved, while ICG simultaneously mediates PTT and PDT, producing enhanced synergistic antiparasitic effects. This work demonstrates a metabolically targeted, multimodal nanoplatform that improves therapeutic precision and efficacy against AE.