A versatile and low-toxicity material for photothermal therapy in deeper tissues

The limited depth of the near infrared (NIR) response is one of the major flaws of the present photothermal therapy (PTT). In this article, thermosensitive polyurethane urea (TPUU) was synthesized by polymerization. Subsequent experiments showed that, compared with classical photosensitizers, TPUU has higher photothermal effects and lower cytotoxicity. These valuable properties could make the present PTT research provide more therapeutic options among different tissues and organs. As a practical example, TPUU was applied to regulate the intestinal flora through external NIR irradiation, which implied its promising expanded applications in deeper tissues.