Real-time objective evaluation of the ischemic stroke through pH-responsive fluorescence imaging.

A rapid and comprehensive assessment of ischemic stroke (IS) is critical for clinicians to take the most appropriate treatment. Currently, IS assessment is mainly carried out by computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in combination with observing the clinical symptoms and inquiring about contraindications. However, they cannot diagnose pathological conditions and judge the microenvironment in real-time. Near-infrared (NIR) fluorescence imaging has advantages for IS imaging, such as high sensitivity, high spatiotemporal resolution, and straightforward real-time operation. Herein, a pH-responsive fluorescent liposomal probe (BOD@Lip) was prepared for in vivo real-time visualization of the degree of IS based on the different acid microenvironments in the progression of the disease. The fluorescence imaging with BOD@Lip showed the degree of IS, and the correlation between fluorescence signals and the neurological deficit scores was established for the first time. This work provided a new method to objectively evaluate the degree of IS through a visualized route and a new insight into the relationship between the acidic microenvironment and the progression of IS. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.