# A calix[4]arene-based supramolecular nanoassembly targeting cancer cells and triggering the release of nitric oxide with green light

## TL;DR

A new nanoassembly targets cancer cells and releases nitric oxide using green light, offering a promising approach for cancer therapy.

## Contribution

The design of a calix[4]arene-based nanoassembly that uses green light to trigger nitric oxide release in cancer cells.

## Key findings

- The nanoassembly is 170 nm in diameter and water-soluble due to its amphiphilic structure.
- It selectively targets cancer cells with overexpressed choline transporters and can be visualized via fluorescence.
- Green light activates nitric oxide release through intra-cage electron transfer, improving biocompatibility.

## Abstract

We have designed and synthesized a novel calix[4]arene derivative bearing four choline appendages as recognition targeting ligands and one amino-nitrobenzofurazan as a fluorescent labelling unit at the opposite sides of the calixarene molecular scaffold. Due to its amphiphilic character, this compound is well soluble in water, forming supramolecular assemblies that are ca. 170 nm in diameter. The nanoassembly selectively targets cancer cells that overexpress the choline transporters, and it can be visualized thanks to the fluorescent tag. The fluorogenic unit also acts as a green light harvesting center, making the nanoassembly a photo-nanoreactor able to encapsulate a hydrophobic nitric oxide (NO) photodonor, otherwise activatable with blue light, and encouraging the NO release with the more biocompatible green light probably by an intra-cage photoinduced electron transfer.