biostudies-literatureYang MFundamental Research Funds for the Central UniversitiesNational Natural Science Foundation of China11515-11524https://www.ebi.ac.uk/biostudies/studies/S-EPMC8447874biostudies-literatureUnknown12(34)Stimuli-activatable and subcellular organelle-targeted agents with multimodal therapeutics are urgently desired for highly precise and effective cancer treatment. Herein, a CO/light dual-activatable Ru(ii)-oligo-(thiophene ethynylene) (Ru-OTE) for lysosome-targeted cancer therapy is reported. Ru-OTE is prepared <i>via</i> the coordination-driven self-assembly of a cationic conjugated oligomer (OTE-BN) ligand and a Ru(ii) center. Upon the dual-triggering of internal gaseous signaling molecular CO and external light, Ru-OTE undergoes ligand substitution and releases OTE-BN followed by dramatic fluorescence recovery, which could be used for monitoring drug delivery and imaging guided anticancer treatments. The released OTE-BN selectively accumulates in lysosomes, physically breaking their intChemical scienceCO/light dual-activatable Ru(ii)-conjugated oligomer agent for lysosome-targeted multimodal cancer therapeutics.PMC8447874GK20190100321675106GK20210100121974084Zhang ZWang SYang MYuan QDuan XTang YZhao HFeng QfalseCO/light dual-activatable Ru(ii)-conjugated oligomer agent for lysosome-targeted multimodal cancer therapeutics.Stimuli-activatable and subcellular organelle-targeted agents with multimodal therapeutics are urgently desired for highly precise and effective cancer treatment. Herein, a CO/light dual-activatable Ru(ii)-oligo-(thiophene ethynylene) (Ru-OTE) for lysosome-targeted cancer therapy is reported. Ru-OTE is prepared <i>via</i> the coordination-driven self-assembly of a cationic conjugated oligomer (OTE-BN) ligand and a Ru(ii) center. Upon the dual-triggering of internal gaseous signaling molecular CO and external light, Ru-OTE undergoes ligand substitution and releases OTE-BN followed by dramatic fluorescence recovery, which could be used for monitoring drug delivery and imaging guided anticancer treatments. The released OTE-BN selectively accumulates in lysosomes, physically breaking their int2021-01-01T00:00:00Z2021 Sep2025-06-01T00:04:29.188Z2025-06-01T00:04:29.188ZS-EPMC84478743466755510.1039/d1sc01317c