Remote-Controlled Release of Nitric Oxide by Plasmonic Waveguide Coated With Metal-Organic Frameworks

Spatiotemporal control of photochemical reactions in living cells is a powerful approach for the precise manipulation of cellular functions and the interrogation of biological systems. However, conventional methods requiring direct light exposure often induce cellular damage due to the generation of reactive oxygen species and/or photothermal effects. Here, we present a novel intracellular delivery method using the plasmonic waveguiding effect, which enables the release of bioactive molecules within a single live cell without subjecting the target cells to direct light exposure. This is achieved by remotely inducing photo-cleavage reactions via the propagation of surface plasmon polaritons (SPPs), which are generated by light irradiation at a spatially separated coupling point and guided to the target site. We demonstrate the efficacy of this platform by delivering nitric oxide (NO) gas into an individual single live cell, confirming its biological relevance by monitoring transient changes in intracellular calcium concentration. This novel platform provides a precise, time-controlled means of intracellular molecular delivery, offering a new frontier for minimizing invasive single-cell surgery and signaling studies.