Retraction Note: Artificial photoactive chlorophyll conjugated vanadium carbide nanostructure for synergistic photothermal/photodynamic therapy of cancer

Retraction Note: Journal of Nanobiotechnology (2022) 20:121

10.1186/s12951-022-01331-x

The Editors-in-Chief have retracted this article at the Corresponding Author’s request. After publication, concerns were raised regarding the images presented in the figures. Specifically:

Fig. 1E V2C O and N images (both showing no signal) appear to share some background noise.

Fig. 3B Chl and Chl/V2C images appear highly similar to Fig. 3F Laser and Chl/V2C (green channel only) images, respectively.

Fig. 3F Control and Chl/V2C images appear highly similar (green channel only).

Fig. 4E Chl/V2C and Laser images appear to show the same mouse; the Control tumour is at a different site compared with the other groups.

Fig. 5A:

Heart Chl/V2C and Chl/V2C + Laser 670 & 808 (nm) images appear to overlap;

Heart Laser and Chl + Laser 670 (nm) images appear to originate from the same sample;

Heart V2C + Laser 808 (nm), Chl/V2C + Laser 670 (nm) and Chl/V2C + Laser 808 (nm) images appear to originate from the same sample;

Kidney Chl/V2C and Chl/V2C + Laser 808 (nm) images appear to overlap;

Liver Chl + Laser 670 (nm) and Chl/V2C + Laser 670 & 808 (nm) images appear to overlap.

Fig. 5B TUNEL Chl/V2C and Laser images appear to overlap

Fig. 5B bottom four H&E images appear highly similar to Fig. 4A (40X) in [1].

The authors have been unable to provide the original data for validation upon request. The Editors-in-Chief therefore no longer have confidence in the presented data.

Haifeng Dong agrees to this retraction. None of the other authors have responded to any correspondence from the editor or publisher about this retraction.