 A bridging strategy is reported that enhances the loading capacity, endows uniform size, high photothermal efficacy, and favourable therapeutic features of HSA-based cross-linking platforms for tumour-targeted drug delivery, making them efficient photothermal agents, PTAs, for tumour-photothermal therapy, PTT. This article was authored by Zhao Qingxia, Miyami Aluo, Chilly Huang, and others.