Stem Cell-Based Delivery of Gold/Chlorin e6 Nanocomplexes for Combined Photothermal and Photodynamic Therapy.Combining photothermal and photodynamic modalities has shown encouraging therapeutic efficacy against various malignant cancers.  Herein, we report a novel strategy involving the utilization of stem cells as a live carrier to codeliver photothermal and photodynamic agents for cancer therapy.  To this end, a novel gold nanorod (AuNR)-PEG-PEI (APP)/chlorin e6 (Ce6)-loaded adipose-derived stem cell (ADSC) system is proposed in which AuNRs and Ce6 act as the photothermal and photodynamic agents, respectively.  The photothermal effect induced by exposure to near-infrared light irradiation at 808 nm promoted the release of Ce6 from the stem cells into the surroundings and hence increased its availability to treat cancer cells.  APP/Ce6-loaded ADSCs exerted effective dose-dependent in vitro anticancer activities via anticipated photothermal and photodynamic effects. 
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