%0 Journal Article
%T Design of a prodrug photocage for cancer cells detection and anticancer drug release.
%A Shao Q
%A Zhang F
%A Li C
%A Yang Y
%A Liu S
%A Chen G
%A Fan B
%J Talanta
%V 274
%N 0
%D 2024 Jul 1
%M 38613948
%F 6.556
%R 10.1016/j.talanta.2024.126002
%X Developing probes for simultaneous diagnosis and killing of cancer cells is crucial, yet challenging. This article presents the design and synthesis of a novel Rhodamine B fluorescence probe. The design strategy involves utilizing an anticancer drug (Melphalan) to bind with a fluorescent group (HRhod-OH), forming HRhod-MeL, which is non-fluorescent. However, when exposed to the high levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS) of cancer cells, HRhod-MeL transforms into a red-emitting Photocage (Rhod-MeL), and selectively accumulates in the mitochondria of cancer cells, where, when activated with green light (556 nm), anti-cancer drugs released. The Photocage improve the efficacy of anti-cancer drugs and enables the precise diagnosis and killing of cancer cells. Therefore, the prepared Photocage can detect cancer cells and release anticancer drugs in situ, which provides a new method for the development of prodrugs.