Legumain-Specific Near-Infrared Fluorescence "Turn On" for Tumor-Targeted Imaging.
Yue ZhaoZijuan HaiHongyong WangLanhong SuGaolin LiangPublished in: Analytical chemistry (2018)
Legumain is one of the cysteine proteases which can serve as an essential indicator for cancer diagnosis. Near-infrared (NIR) nanoprobes with fluorescence "Turn On" property are advantageous in cancer diagnosis. However, to the best of our knowledge, using a completely organic NIR nanoprobe to image legumain activity either in vitro or in vivo has not been reported. Herein, employing a CBT-Cys click condensation reaction, we used a rationally designed NIR probe Cys(StBu)-Ala-Ala-Asn-Lys(Cy5.5)-CBT (1) to synthesize its nanoprobes 1-NPs with self-quenched fluorescence. Cell and animal experiments indicated that our nanoprobes were able to specifically image legumain activity in living cells and tumors with a NIR fluorescence "Turn On" manner. We envision that the nanoprobes could be applied for the diagnosis of legumain-related diseases in the near future.
Keyphrases
- living cells
- fluorescent probe
- fluorescence imaging
- single molecule
- photodynamic therapy
- papillary thyroid
- energy transfer
- squamous cell
- deep learning
- healthcare
- high resolution
- single cell
- squamous cell carcinoma
- drug release
- cell therapy
- stem cells
- mass spectrometry
- machine learning
- childhood cancer
- current status
- young adults
- bone marrow