Doxorubicin‐Sensitized Luminescence of NIR‐Emitting Ytterbium Liposomes: Towards Direct Monitoring of Drug Release

International audience; Drug-loaded liposomes are typical examples of nanomedicine. We show here that doxorubicin, the anti-cancer agent in the liposomal drug Doxil ® , can sensitize Ytterbium (Yb 3+ ) and generate its near infrared (NIR) emission. When doxorubicin and amphiphilic Yb 3+ chelates are incorporated into liposomes, the sensitized emission of Yb 3+ is dependent on the integrity of the particles which can be used to monitor drug release. We also established the first demonstration that the NIR Yb 3+ emission signal is observable in living mice following intratumoral injection of the Yb 3+ -doxorubicin-liposomes, using a commercial macroscopic setup equipped with a near-infrared camera.