An aza-BODIPY based near-infrared fluorescent probe for sensitive discrimination of cysteine/homocysteine and glutathione in living cells.

Discriminative detection of glutathione (GSH) from cysteine/homocysteine (Cys/Hcy) is achieved through two emission channel analysis using a stable, highly sensitive, and selective near-infrared fluorescent probe that bears 7-nitrobenzo-2-oxa-1,3-diazole and aza-BODIPY units. The probe was successfully applied for simultaneous determination of GSH and Cys/Hcy in living cells.

Ruthenium nitrosyl functionalized graphene quantum dots as an efficient nanoplatform for NIR-light-controlled and mitochondria-targeted delivery of nitric oxide combined with photothermal therapy.

A mitochondria-targeting nanoplatform for near-infrared-light-controlled release of nitric oxide accompanied by photothermal therapy was developed, which consists of ruthenium nitrosyl functionalized N-doped graphene quantum dots and a triphenylphosphonium moiety. The nanoplatform demonstrated both in vitro and in vivo anti-tumor efficacy upon irradiation with 808 nm light.

A multifunctional nanoplatform for lysosome targeted delivery of nitric oxide and photothermal therapy under 808 nm near-infrared light.

Nitric oxide (NO) plays important roles in various physiological and pathological processes. The development of multifunctional nanoplatforms that enable site-specific delivery of NO is expected to provide new insights toward the realization of NO-mediated therapy. We report herein a novel nanoplatform {Lyso-Ru-NO@FA@CDs}, (1), where a lysosome-targeting NO donor, Lyso-Ru-NO, and a folic-acid (FA)-directing group were incorporated into carbon dots (CDs).

Ruthenium nitrosyl grafted carbon dots as a fluorescence-trackable nanoplatform for visible light-controlled nitric oxide release and targeted intracellular delivery.

Nitric oxide (NO) plays a key role in various physiological and pathological processes. It is of great significance in developing a platform that enables exogenous delivery of NO spatiotemporally to a targeted site for realizing NO-mediated therapy. We report herein a stable, multifunctional NO-delivery nanoplatform that is capable of target directing, fluorescence tracking, and light-controlled NO delivery.

Tumor cell specific and lysosome-targeted delivery of nitric oxide for enhanced photodynamic therapy triggered by 808 nm near-infrared light.

A novel cancer cell lysosome-targetable multifunctional NO-delivery nanoplatform (Lyso-Ru-NO@FA@C-TiO2) (1) was developed. It selectively targets folate-receptor overexpressed cancer cells and specifically locates within the lysosome organelle to which NO and reactive oxygen species are simultaneously released upon 808 nm NIR light irradiation. The dual-targeted nanoplatform (1) demonstrated the highest anticancer efficacy compared with nontargeted counterparts under NIR light sensitization.

Photo-controlled targeted intracellular delivery of both nitric oxide and singlet oxygen using a fluorescence-trackable ruthenium nitrosyl functional nanoplatform.

A multifunctional nitric oxide (NO) delivery nanoplatform that combines functionalities of target directing, fluorescence tracking, and photo-controlled target attacking was developed. The {Ru-NO@TiO2 NPs} nanoplatform selectively targeted folate-receptor over-expressed cancer cells while being simultaneously traced based on its inherent fluorescence. Intracellular localized NO and singlet oxygen were produced on demand by controlled visible light illumination, producing a synergistic cytotoxic effect to cancer cells.