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Multifunctional nanoprobes that can be applied for real‐time monitoring or precision treatment of tumors have received wide interest among researchers. However, most of these nanoprobes are obtained through chemical synthesis, and thereby may contain toxic residues or harmful reagents. In this article, a nano‐bismuth‐sphere‐cluster (Bi) is synthesized via a one‐step method (after an irradiation with ultra‐violet) and is then applied in dual‐mode computed tomography/photoacoustic imaging. Bismuth potassium citrate granules, which is a common gastric drug that is highly safe and has a low price (<1 China Yuan/g), is used as the only raw material. The results show that the Bi cluster has good stability with sizes of about 25–55 nm, and a photothermal conversion efficiency as high as 39.67%. After being adsorbed onto doxorubicin, the Bi cluster can be used directly in animal experiments. Due to the effect of enhanced permeability and retention, the probe can easily enter tumor cells. Drug release can be controlled by a near‐infrared laser and the acidic environment of tumor cells, which indicates that the combined chemo‐photothermal therapy is achieved. This work presents a new dual‐mode bio‐imaging and combined chemo‐photothermal therapeutic nanoprobe that can be applied in theragnostics for tumors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlight • Gold nanosphere cluster coated by graphene quantum dot acts as theranostic probe. • Nanoprobe is prepared by simple materials after UV radiation for 1 min ultrafastly. • Nanoprobe had excellent photoacoustic/CT imaging functions. • Nanoprobe presented excellent chemo-photothermal combined therapy for tumor. Abstract In this work, simple raw materials and reaction conditions were used to synthesize a versatile nanoprobe using a one-step method. Graphene quantum dot (GQD) and gold chloride were mixed and irradiated with ultra-violet (UV) radiation for 1 min. Then, the gold nanosphere cluster with the diameter of 50 nm and coated using GQD was formed using a facile one-step approach. GQD played the roles of reducing agent, stabilizer and drug carrier instead of a harmful reducing agent or stabilizer. The nanoprobe had good dispersion, stability, excellent photoacoustic imaging (PAI) and computed tomography (CT) imaging performance, low cytotoxicity and photothermal conversion efficiency of up to 51.31%. The results for cell and animal experiments showed that targeted PAI/CT imaging of tumor after modification of folic acid (FA) could be obtained using the probe. Meanwhile, after the adsorption of doxorubicin, the chemo-photothermal combined therapy for tumor could be carried out through controlled drug release from GQD under heated and acidic environment of tumor. Additionally, the treatment effect was significantly superior to single modes. The body weight, Hematoxylin and Eeosin (H&E) staining of main organs and blood biochemical indicators showed that the probe had good biological safety after injection. The current work proposes a new dual-mode bio-imaging and chemo-photothermal combined therapy nanoprobe, which presents good application prospect for tumor theragnostic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]