A two-photon responsive hydroxyphenylquinazolinone (HPQ)-based fluorescent organic nanoprodrug for HS release against oxidative stress.

Light-activated HS donors have attracted considerable interest in understanding the physiological role and clinical potential of HS, as their release is highly localized and controlled. Herein, we have evolved a new HPQ chromophore-based fluorescent organic nanosystem localized in a target area that tolerates oxidative stress and precisely releases HS under one- and two-photon irradiation with real-time monitoring capability. The two-photon absorption cross-section of this new phototrigger was calculated to be 283 GM at 720 nm. HS photorelease was also demonstrated on the MDA-MB-468 cell line in the presence of excess ROS. Our developed HS nanoprodrug can be applied to living systems to release the HS-gasotransmitter under laser irradiation in a phototherapeutic window.