NIR light controlled release of caged hydrogen sulfide based on upconversion nanoparticles.

Area of Science:

• Biomedical Engineering
• Materials Science
• Nanotechnology

Background:

• Hydrogen sulfide (H2S) is an important signaling molecule with therapeutic potential.
• Existing methods for H2S delivery lack precise spatial and temporal control.
• Upconversion nanoparticles (UCNPs) can convert near-infrared (NIR) light into shorter wavelengths, such as UV light.

Purpose of the Study:

• To construct a novel platform for controlled H2S release using UCNPs and NIR light.
• To investigate the spatial and temporal controllability of H2S release.
• To evaluate the potential of this platform for real-time in vivo monitoring of therapeutic delivery.

Main Methods:

• Synthesis and characterization of UCNPs.
• Construction of the NIR-light-triggered H2S release system.
• In vitro and in vivo experiments to assess H2S release and delivery monitoring.

Main Results:

• The UCNP-based platform successfully released H2S upon NIR light excitation.
• H2S release was controllable in both space and time.
• The platform demonstrated efficacy in real-time monitoring of in vivo delivery processes.

Conclusions:

• A new NIR-light-activated H2S release platform based on UCNPs was successfully developed.
• This platform offers precise control over H2S delivery, paving the way for advanced H2S-based therapeutics.
• The ability to monitor delivery in real-time enhances its potential for treating various diseases.