Related Experiment Video
Updated: Dec 9, 2025
A Bright NIR-II Fluorescence Probe for Vascular and Tumor Imaging
Published on: March 17, 2023
Design and Synthesis of a Novel NIR Celecoxib-Based Fluorescent Probe for Cyclooxygenase-2 Targeted Bioimaging in
Xinli Wang1,2, Liye Wang2, Lijun Xie2,3
1Department of Medical Oncology, Fujian Medical University Union Hospital, Fuzhou 350001, Fujian, China.
Abstract:
Cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) imaging agents are potent tools for early cancer diagnosis. Almost all of the COX2 imaging agents using celecoxib as backbone were chemically modified in the position of N-atom in the sulfonamide group. Herein, a novel COX-2 probe (CCY-5) with high targeting ability and a near-infrared wavelength (achieved by attaching a CY-5 dye on the pyrazole ring of celecoxib using a migration strategy) was evaluated for its ability to probe COX-2 in human cancer cells. CCY-5 is expected to have high binding affinity for COX-2 based on molecular docking and enzyme inhibition assay. Meanwhile, CCY-5 caused stronger fluorescence imaging of COX-2 overexpressing cancer cells (Hela and SCC-9 cells) than that of normal cell lines (RAW 264.7 cells). Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) treated RAW264.7 cells revealed an enhanced fluorescence as LPS was known to induce COX-2 in these cells. In inhibitory studies, a markedly reduced fluorescence intensity was observed in cancer cells, when they were co-treated with a COX-2 inhibitor celecoxib. Therefore, CCY-5 may be a selective bioimaging agent for cancer cells overexpressing COX-2 and could be useful as a good monitoring candidate for effective diagnosis and therapy in cancer treatment.
Insights
A new near-infrared imaging agent, CCY-5, selectively targets cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) in cancer cells. This probe shows promise for early cancer diagnosis and therapy monitoring.
Area of Science:
- Biomedical imaging
- Molecular probes
- Cancer diagnostics
Background:
- Cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) imaging agents are crucial for early cancer detection.
- Existing COX-2 probes often modify the N-atom of the sulfonamide group in celecoxib.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate a novel COX-2 probe (CCY-5) for its ability to image COX-2 in human cancer cells.
- To assess CCY-5's targeting ability and near-infrared fluorescence properties.
Main Methods:
- Synthesis of CCY-5 by attaching a CY-5 dye to the pyrazole ring of celecoxib.
- Molecular docking and enzyme inhibition assays to predict binding affinity.
- Fluorescence imaging of COX-2 overexpressing cancer cells (Hela, SCC-9) and normal cells (RAW 264.7).
- Assessing fluorescence changes in LPS-treated RAW264.7 cells and co-treatment with celecoxib.
Main Results:
- CCY-5 demonstrated high binding affinity for COX-2.
- Enhanced fluorescence imaging was observed in COX-2 overexpressing cancer cells compared to normal cells.
- LPS treatment induced COX-2 expression and enhanced CCY-5 fluorescence in RAW264.7 cells.
- Co-treatment with celecoxib significantly reduced fluorescence intensity in cancer cells.
Conclusions:
- CCY-5 is a selective bioimaging agent for cancer cells overexpressing COX-2.
- CCY-5 shows potential as a monitoring candidate for effective cancer diagnosis and therapy.
