Solvent-mediated handedness inversed and amplified circularly polarized luminescence system based on camptothecin derivative

To realize the handedness controllable circularly polarized luminescence (CPL) system remains challenging. Herein, the solvent-mediated CPL inversion and amplification systems were successfully constructed by camptothecin derivative (CPT-A). Due to the planar structure of N,N-dimethylformamide, it could co-assemble with CPT-A, resulting in the alteration of glum from ‒0.0082 to +0.0085 by increasing water content. While in the non-planar solvent (hexafluoroisopropanol), the glum was amplified to 0.034 with the increase in water content. Moreover, the CPT-A could react with the glutathione, resulting in the anticancer drug CPT to make it more toxic to the cancer cells. Overall, the handedness controllable CPL systems were realized by tuning the supramolecular self-assembly of a prodrug.