We
report the first demonstration using π-conjugated radicals
for reactive oxygen species (ROS) scavenging. The ester-derived 1,2,4-benzotriazinyl
monoradical VER and its carboxyl counterpart VAR exhibit typical antiferromagnetic behavior with a thermally populated
spin-triplet state. Upon self-assembly with DSPE-PEG1000, VER formed ∼25 nm size nanoparticles (NPs)
with good water dispersibility and stability, no obvious aggregation
and degradation were observed after storing at ambient environment
for 14 days. In contrast, VAR NPs were unstable and visible
aggregates appeared on the seventh day. These radical NPs show good
biocompatibility, there was almost no decrease in the cell viability
after being incubated with either NPs even at a concentration of 100
μg/mL. Importantly, excessive ROS of the studied model RAW264.7
cells was scavenged to normal concentration when incubated with VER NPs, whereas ROS of VAR NPs treated model
cells was almost not changed or even increased.