Preparative techniques for various SPN based photo-theranostic materials: (a) Illustration of the SPNs preparation from SP and PEG-b-PPG-b-PEG using nanoprecipitation method. (Reprinted Permission from American Chemical Society, 2020) [46]; (b) Molecular structures of SP1 and SP2 used for the preparation of SPN1 and SPN2, respectively. SPNs made through nanoprecipitation. SP is represented as a long chain of chromophore units (red oval beads). DPPC contains a short hydrophobic tail and a charged head and is illustrated as a string with a dark green ball at its end. (Reprinted permission from Nature Nanotechnology, 2014) [69]; (c) illustration of the preparation procedure of OSPNs+ and the photoacoustic labeling of hMSCs after transplantation. (Reprinted permission from American Chemical Society, 2018) [70]; (d) Molecular engineering and nano functionalization of Squaraine dye SQ1 for NIR-II/PA Bimodal Imaging and Photo-thermal ablation of metastatic breast cancer. (Reprinted permission from American Chemical Society, 2020) [74]; (e) Schematic Illustration of PLD-Activatable Tumor Image and PTT/PDT Combined Therapy (Reprinted permission from American Chemical Society, 2021) [75]; (f) Chemical structure of pBODO-PEG-VR and preparation of APNA (Reprinted permission from Nature, 2021) [76]; (g) Schematic illustration of preparation for Pdots (Reprinted permission from American Chemical Society, 2016) [48]; (h) Synthetic route of conjugated polymer BDT-IID (*) Pd(PPh3)4 and toluene, 110 °C and preparation of BDT-IID Pdots for PAI-guided PTT (Reprinted permission from American Chemical Society, 2018) [49].