Activatable near-infrared emission-guided on-demand administration of photodynamic anticancer therapy with a theranostic nanoprobe

Development of theranostic probes that can be used to identify tumors and direct the on-demand drug administration to cancers is ongoing but remains challenging. Herein, we report a theranostic platform composed of a H(2)S-activated imaging probe and a light-sensitive drug. The designed probe affords advantages of H(2)S-activated NIR emission light-up and efficient (1)O(2) generation, enabling the selective visualization of H(2)S-rich cancers and the subsequent imaging-directed on-demand light exposure to the detected cancers while leaving normal tissues untouched. Such controllable administration of photodynamic anticancer therapy maximizes the therapeutic efficiency and minimizes side effects. This work should facilitate significant advances toward precise diagnosis and treatment of cancer.