Codelivery of nitric oxide (NO) and drugs based on a single nanocarrier is a promising therapeutic strategy. Here, we report a one-step nanoprecipitation method to generate nanoparticles that possess simultaneous NO-donating and doxorubicin releasing properties. S-Nitroso polysilsesquioxane acts like an avid "drug sponge" that attracts drug molecules into nanospheres.

For the first time S-nitrosothiol is engineered into fluorophore-loaded silica nanospheres for post-synthesis, light-triggered fluorescence augmentation.