A DT-diaphorase-activatable theranostic prodrug, which contains camptothecin, a self-immolative linker and a trigger group, has been developed for the detection of DT-diaphorase, tracking of drug release and selectively killing cancer cells over-expressed with DT-diaphorase. This strategy may offer a new approach for the development of enzyme-catalyzed theranostic anticancer therapeutics.

A DT-diaphorase-activatable theranostic prodrug has been developed for visualizing the release of active drug and enhancing the therapeutic effect.