{
  "abstract": "Integrating real-time diagnostic imaging with stimuli-responsive therapy into a single nanoplatform represents a core research direction in precision oncology. Nevertheless, the construction of a lysosome-targeted theranostic system that simultaneously combines high-contrast luminescence, biosafety, and spatially controlled drug release characteristics continues to pose formidable challenges. Herein, by modulating the number of electron-withdrawing cyano (–CN) substituents on the ligand backbone, a series of Zn(II)-Schiff base complexes—designated Zn-0CN, Zn-1CN, and Zn-2CN—were rationally designed and synthesized. The cyano-governed donor–acceptor topology induced a pronounced bathochromic shift in the emission spectra (497 nm for Zn-0CN versus 543 nm for Zn-2CN) while concurrently elevating the fluorescence quantum yield of Zn-2CN to 9.2%. Density functional theory calculations revealed that Zn(II) coordination narrows the HOMO–LUMO energy gap and enhances intramolecular charge transfer; notably, the bis-cyano-substituted Zn-2CN exhibited strong charge polarization within the metal-binding region. Zn-2CN nanoparticles selectively accumulated in the lysosomes of 4 T1 breast cancer cells, displaying bright yellow-green fluorescence and outstanding colocalization with a commercial lysosomal red probe. Following camptothecin (CPT) encapsulation, the resulting CPT@Zn-2CN nanoparticles achieved a cumulative drug release of 92% within 36 h at pH 5.6, whereas only 41% leaked at physiological pH 7.4, confirming their pH-triggered drug release capability. The bare Zn-2CN material exhibited negligible cytotoxicity (cell viability exceeding 90% at 100 μg·mL −1 ). At an equivalent CPT dosage (20 μg·mL −1 ), CPT@Zn-2CN elicited markedly superior apoptosis induction compared with free CPT (cell viabilities of 20.5% and 37.5%, respectively), an enhancement attributable to drug release activated by the acidic lysosomal milieu. This work establishes a versatile “imaging–drug delivery integration” platform based on Zn(II)-Schiff base chemistry, wherein a cyano-functionalization strategy enables precise tuning of photophysical properties, and the intrinsic pH sensitivity of the imine bond allows for lysosome-responsive drug release. This study demonstrates that such complexes can seamlessly combine bioimaging with microenvironment-responsive chemotherapy, offering a promising strategy for precision oncology.",
  "abstract_shown": true,
  "affiliations": [
    "Department of Radiation Oncology, The Second Affiliated Hospital and Yuying Children's Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, China",
    "Zhejiang Engineering Research Center for Innovation and Application of Intelligent Radiotherapy Technology, Zhejiang-Hong Kong Precision Theranostics of Thoracic Tumors Joint Laboratory, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, China",
    "Department of Biomedical Engineering, City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China",
    "Joint Research Centre, HIM, The First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China",
    "College of Medicine, Etugen University, Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia",
    "College of Materials Science and Engineering, Hunan University, Changsha, Hunan, China",
    "Department of Microbiology and Immunology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, China"
  ],
  "article_type": null,
  "arxiv": null,
  "author_total": 7,
  "authors": [
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Xi Zhang"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0,
        1
      ],
      "name": "Wenjie Sun"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        2,
        3
      ],
      "name": "Xin Li"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        4
      ],
      "name": "Yuanzhe Li"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        5
      ],
      "name": "Shuo Xiang",
      "orcid": "0000-0001-9937-7470"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        6
      ],
      "name": "Lifang Zhang"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        3
      ],
      "name": "Yiping Yang",
      "orcid": "0000-0002-1291-7460"
    }
  ],
  "bibtex": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/bgxbzh5bj62v3.bib",
  "cited_by": 7,
  "doi": "10.1016/j.ijpx.2026.100594",
  "fulltext_url": null,
  "id": "bgxbzh5bj62v3",
  "issns": [
    "2590-1567"
  ],
  "landing_url": "https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijpx.2026.100594",
  "language": "en",
  "licence": "CC-BY-NC",
  "licence_label": "CC BY-NC",
  "licence_source": "journal",
  "licence_url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/",
  "metadata_licence": null,
  "native_subjects": [
    [
      "openalex",
      "2505|Luminescence and Fluorescent Materials"
    ]
  ],
  "openalex": "W7166555905",
  "pdf_url": "https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2590156726001143/pdf",
  "pmcid": "PMC13351152",
  "pmid": "42434439",
  "published": "2026-06-29",
  "publisher": "Elsevier BV",
  "ris": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/bgxbzh5bj62v3.ris",
  "sources": [
    {
      "first_seen": "2026-11-09T13:21:23Z",
      "native_id": "W7166555905",
      "source": "openalex",
      "url": "https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijpx.2026.100594"
    }
  ],
  "subjects": [
    {
      "field": "chemistry",
      "origin": "openalex:2505|Luminescence and Fluorescent Materials",
      "subfield": "materials-polymers"
    }
  ],
  "title": "Cyano-modulated Zn(II)-Schiff base complexes for lysosome-targeted fluorescence imaging and pH-responsive camptothecin delivery",
  "title_text": "Cyano-modulated Zn(II)-Schiff base complexes for lysosome-targeted fluorescence imaging and pH-responsive camptothecin delivery",
  "type": "peer-reviewed",
  "updated_at": "2026-11-09T13:21:23Z",
  "url": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/bgxbzh5bj62v3",
  "venue": "International Journal of Pharmaceutics X",
  "versions": []
}