A self-assessed photosensitizer: inducing and dual-modal phosphorescence imaging of mitochondria oxidative stress.

Two novel Ir(iii)-nitroxide conjugates have been synthesized as mitochondria-targeted multi-functional theranostic photosensitizers, capable of simultaneously inducing and dual-modal phosphorescence imaging of mitochondrial oxidative stress under two-photon excitation, thus realizing the photodynamic therapy of cancer and self-assessment of their PDT efficacies.