NIR-Triggered Release of Nitric Oxide with Upconversion Nanoparticles Inhibits Platelet Aggregation in Blood Samples

摘要

There is a great challenge to overcome the limitation of tissue penetration depth, while maximizing the benefit of light-triggered biochemical cascades in a well-defined mode simultaneously. Here, a new method of near-infrared (NIR) light-triggered release of nitric oxide (NO) by developing upconversion nanoparticles (UCNPs)-based conjugate chemistry is reported. As the key nanotransducer in the design, core-shell-structured UCNPs are encapsulated with a layer of SiO2 and then covalently linked with a potent NO-releasing donor (S-nitroso-N-acetyl-dl-penicillamine, SNAP). It is featured with highly localized breakage of chemical bonds of SNAP molecules by NIR-UV upconversion, enabling simultaneous NO release in a light dosage-dependent manner. The biological effects of NO releasing are demonstrated by cellular imaging and inhibition of platelet aggregation from blood samples. This work provides a flexible and robust platform to generate cell-signaling gas molecules trigged by NIR laser with deep tissue penetration.