The　combination　of　chemotherapy　and　photothermal　therapy　displays　improved　anti-cancer　effects　and　lower　systematic　toxicity　of　a　free　drug　compared　with　monotherapy.　In　this　study,　we　designed　innovative,　carrier-free　nanodrugs　(PTX/ICG　NDs)　composed　of　the　chemotherapeutic　agent　paclitaxel　(PTX)　and　the　photosensitizer　indocyanine　green　(ICG)　via　self-assembly.　The　nanodrugs　not　only　incorporated　two　different　modalities　into　one　delivery　system　for　combined　chemo-photothermal　therapy　but　also　enhanced　the　solubility　of　PTX　without　the　need　for　any　carrier.　The　as-prepared　PTX/ICG　NDs　exhibited　the　merits　of　a　relatively　uniform　size　of　140　±　1.4　nm,　surface　charge　of　-36　±　2.2　mV,　and　high　drug　loading　content　of　PTX.　The　combination　strategy　exerted　a　synergistic　effect　on　the　cytotoxicity　of　cancer　cells　in　vitro,　which　could　be　attributed　to　the　high　cellular　uptake　and　sustained　release　of　PTX.　Furthermore,　an　in　vivo　study　indicated　that　PTX/ICG　NDs　showed　higher　accumulation　in　the　tumor　site　than　free　ICG　and　possessed　strong　synergistic　chemo-photothermal　therapy　efficacy　against　tumors　in　H22　tumor-bearing　mice.　Taken　together,　our　study　demonstrates　that　PTX/ICG　NDs　hold　promise　to　become　an　alternative　chemo-photothermal　therapy　agent　to　treat　cancers.　©　2019　The　Royal　Society　of　Chemistry.