Dear Dr. Sun,

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Dinesh Kumar, Ph. D.

Academic Editor

PLOS ONE

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[Leading Goose R&D Program of Zhejiang - 2024C03230 - Yuanyuan Lv].

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[This study was supported by the Leading Goose R&D Program of Zhejiang (Grant nos. 2024C03230).]

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[The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.].   

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Reviewers' comments:

Reviewer's Responses to Questions

Comments to the Author

1. Is the manuscript technically sound, and do the data support the conclusions?

Reviewer #1: Yes

Reviewer #2: Yes

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2. Has the statistical analysis been performed appropriately and rigorously? -->?>

Reviewer #1: Yes

Reviewer #2: Yes

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3. Have the authors made all data underlying the findings in their manuscript fully available??>

The PLOS Data policy

Reviewer #1: Yes

Reviewer #2: Yes

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4. Is the manuscript presented in an intelligible fashion and written in standard English??>

Reviewer #1: Yes

Reviewer #2: Yes

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Reviewer #1: 1. The abstract must be revised by addressing key results.

2. The first and second paragraphs of the introduction are too lengthy; they should be combined and shortened.

3. The description of Au NPs is not impressive; it should be revised by addressing the examples of such studies that are closer to your study. In the last paragraph of the introduction, you must discuss the gap in research, your study's novelty, and finally, the aim of the study.

4. Mention hours as "h" and minutes as "min," and mention the lyophilization conditions (time, temp, etc.) and model of lyophilizer.

5. Clearly describe the methodology of SEM, TEM, and DLS, and also mention the model of spectrometer.

6. ROS production by PHF@AuNPs: here don't use abbreviations at the start of the heading.

7. The sentence "contrasted with lead for TEM observation" is not clear.

8. The sentence "demonstrating the generation of AuNPs with similar particle size [23]" must be revised by mentioning the author of the study to which your AuNPs resemble.

9. The extended time of reaction resulted in a higher yield; for this statement, please discuss the mechanism with supportive literature.

10. In Fig. 1D and 1E, write the numerical values at their peaks. While in 1 C (a, b, c) and 1 F, the scale is missing. In Fig 4 and Fig 5 scale bar and value are not clear.

11. Results of Fig 4 and Fig 5 should be discussed with literature.

12. Revise the conclusion.

Reviewer #2: This manuscript presents a novel and facile synthesis of PHF@AuNPs nanocomposites for effective NIR-triggered photodynamic therapy, demonstrating promising in vitro results and stability. The methodology and discussion are generally clear. However, this manuscript requires improvement to enhance clarity, data presentation, and scientific rigor.

1. The abstract succinctly introduces the research and highlights key findings. However, it should clarify experimental conditions and include quantitative results to enhance its impact.

2. The introduction provides relevant background and highlights the importance of NIR-triggered photodynamic therapy. However, several statements require clearer citations and a more critical comparison to previous research. For example, when describing the limitations of existing photosensitizers and their absorption wavelengths, the manuscript should directly cite recent key studies or reviews. Additionally, the claims about the superiority of PHF@AuNPs should be critically compared with previous nanocomposite systems by referencing published performance metrics or outcomes.

3. The methods section describes procedural details sufficiently, but it lacks clarity in experimental design and reproducibility. Concentrations, incubation times, and analytical techniques should be presented in a more structured and concise manner. Additionally, a flow diagram or schematic could greatly improve readers’ understanding of the synthesis and characterization workflow.

4. The results and discussion are comprehensive and present clear experimental findings regarding the synthesis, characterization, and biological evaluation of PHF@AuNPs nanocomposites. However, the section would benefit from additional quantitative data, clearer comparative tables, and improved image quality. Authors should provide more critical analysis by contrasting their findings with previous studies and elaborate mechanisms underlying the observed effects.

5. The conclusion concisely summarizes the study’s achievements but should more clearly state the broader significance and limitations.

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Reviewer #1: No

Reviewer #2: No

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One Step Synthesis of Ultrafine PHF@AuNPs Nanocomposite and its Application in NIR Triggered Photodynamic Therapy

PONE-D-25-44370R1

Dear Dr. Yuanyuan Lv,

We’re pleased to inform you that your manuscript has been judged scientifically suitable for publication and will be formally accepted for publication once it meets all outstanding technical requirements.

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Kind regards,

Dinesh Kumar, Ph. D.

Academic Editor

PLOS ONE

Additional Editor Comments (optional):

Reviewers' comments: