Real-Time Visualization of Lysosome Destruction Using a Photosensitive Toluidine Blue Nanogel.

Breaking the lysosome helps its sequestered payloads access their molecular targets in cells and thus enhances the intracellular drug delivery. Current strategies for lysosomal escape involve direct physical interactions with the lipid membrane. These interactions pose a systemic toxicity and uncontrolled membrane rupture risk. Here, we report a light-detonated lysosome disruption using a hyaluronan (HA) nanogel packed with toludine blue (TB). The HA/TB nanogel is concentrated within the lysosomes. The applied light assists TB in generating reactive oxygen species and destroying the lysosome in situ, both in cells and isolated lysosomes. Real time fluorescent tracking reveals that quenched TB fluorescence recovers along with lysosome explosion, relocates to the nucleus, and is presented as a fluorescent sparkling in cells. This HA/TB, composed of all clinically approved materials, represents a biocompatible and facile strategy to "bomb" lysosomes in a spatiotemporally controlled fashion.