Multi‐Functional Carbon Dots for Visualizing and Modulating ROS‐Induced Mitophagy in Living Cells

Abstract Reactive oxygen species (ROS)‐induced mitophagy is associated with a variety of diseases. Therefore, visualizing and modulating the process of ROS‐induced mitophagy is essential for understanding the role of mitophagy in cellular homeostasis, physiological processes, and pathogenesis. Herein, using fluorescence lifetime imaging microscopy (FLIM), for the first time the complete dynamic process of PINK1/Parkin pathway‐mediated mitophagy is described. Induced by the photo‐controlled release of ROS, nitrogen‐doped multi‐functional carbon nanozymes (ENZ‐NCDs) is used as a probe to visualize and quantitatively study ROS‐induced mitophagy. The successful preparation of ENZ‐NCDs provides a potentially powerful tool and a new strategy for real‐time mitophagy monitoring and future quantification of mitochondrial damage caused by ROS and ROS‐induced mitophagy‐related diseases.