Moreover, through incorporation of β-galactose (β-Gal) ligands on the surface, we build a hepatic tumor-targeting and H2S-activatable afterglow probe (F12+-ANP-Gal) that offers sensitive detection of subcutaneous and orthotopic liver tumors in living mice and delineation of liver tumor lesions in clinically excised HCC specimens. The gene discussed is NPPA; the disease is hepatocellular carcinoma.