Platelet membrane coated Cu9S8-SNAP for NIR-II photoacoustic imaging guided NO repairing acute kidney injury

Acute kidney injury (AKI) is a prevalent critical condition in hospitalized patients with an elevated risk of death. Challenges in AKI management persist due to the absence of efficient early diagnostic modalities and the lack of effective therapeutic interventions, imposing significant burdens on medical resources for prolonged treatment. Here, we proposed a second near-infrared (NIR-II) photoacoustic imaging (PAI) guided triggered on-demand release of (nitric oxide) NO from the injury zone to monitor and treat AKI through the anti-inflammatory, anti-apoptotic, and oxidative stress-damage-reducing cell- or organ-protective effects of NO. We engineered hollow copper sulfide nanoparticles (Cu 9 S 8 NPs) loaded with platelet membrane-encapsulated NO-releasing precursors (S-Nitroso-N-acetylpenicillamine, SNAP), as a nanoplatform for early AKI diagnosis and precise spatiotemporal NO release Besides acting as a drug carrier, the inherent PAI compatible Cu 9 S 8 also enables targeted renal injury localization, exploiting the natural propensity of platelets to accumulate at vascular injury sites, facilitating real-time AKI monitoring in murine models. Experiments demonstrated that nitric oxide delivery nanoparticles can specifically target and accumulate in the kidney, reduce inflammation, and promote damage repair. Overall, this gas therapy strategy represents a new therapeutic pathway for the clinical AKI management.