Quantum dots-poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) hybrid nanogel diazeniumdiolates as donors and real-time probes of nitric oxide

► A new CdTe QDs-PNIPAM nanogel diazeniumdiolates system was generated. ► The nanogel diazeniumdiolates are nanospheres with nano-scale dimension. ► The encapsulated QDs distribute in the PNIPAM nanogel network. ► The system can release NO and meanwhile detect the NO release.