Visible to NIR Light Photoactivation of Hydrogen Sulfide for Biological Targeting

Abstract

The synthesis and photochemical properties of H₂S-releasing BODIPY thiocarbamate photocage scaffolds activatable by visible-to-NIR (up to 700 nm) light to release carbonyl sulfide (COS), which is transformed to H₂S using either isolated or natural carbonic anhydrase, is reported. The excellent uncaging cross section and high H₂S release yields in in vitro experiments, including live-cell imaging, suggest that these photocages can serve as a platform for the bio-orthogonal phototriggered release within the tissue-transparent window.