To override resistance to GEM in pancreatic cancer, we developed a visualisable, photothermally controlled, drug release nanosystem (VPNS).  This nanosystem has NaLuF4:Nd@NaLuF4 nanoparticles as the luminescent core, octabutoxyphthalocyanine palladium(ii) (PdPc) as the photothermal agent, and phosphorylated gemcitabine (pGEM) as the chemodrug.  The near-infrared light-triggered photothermal effect from PdPc could trigger the release of pGEM loaded in a thermally responsive ligand and simultaneously enable photothermal cancer treatment. 
THERM