A superoxide anion responsive and self-reporting fluorescent H₂S donor for the treatment of diabetic wound

Superoxide anion (O₂^•-) not only serves as a critical precursor for numerous damaging reactive oxygen species (ROS), but also is implicated in a variety of diseases, including cancer, cardiovascular disorders, and diabetes. Consequently, reducing the levels of superoxide anions and alleviating oxidative stress are of paramount importance. Conversely, hydrogen sulfide (H₂S), recognized as a significant biological signaling molecule, plays vital roles in protecting mammalian cells from oxidative damage and promoting tissue regeneration. In this study, we reported a novel superoxide anion-responsive H₂S donor (HSD-SO-B) designed to scavenge O₂^•- and produce H₂S concurrently. This H₂S donor exhibits several advantages: (1) rapid response to superoxide anions (O₂^•-) with remarkable selectivity over competing species (2) generating H₂S while scavenging superoxide anions (3) producing ratiometric fluorescence for both visualization and quantification of H₂S release. Moreover, this O₂^•--responsive, self-immolative fluorescent H₂S donor has shown significant therapeutic and reparative effects on the diabetic wound model in mice.