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Updated: Jul 19, 2026

A Quantitative Measurement of Reactive Oxygen Species and Senescence-associated Secretory Phenotype in Normal Human Fibroblasts During Oncogene-induced Senescence
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A Quantitative Measurement of Reactive Oxygen Species and Senescence-associated Secretory Phenotype in Normal Human Fibroblasts During Oncogene-induced Senescence

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In vivo senescence imaging nanoprobe targets the associated reactive oxygen species

Seung Koo Lee1, Myung Shin Han1, Ching-Hsuan Tung1

  • 1Molecular Imaging Innovations Institute, Department of Radiology, Weill Cornell Medicine, 413 East 69th Street, Box 290, New York, NY 10021, USA. sel2013@med.cornell.edu.

Nanoscale
|December 22, 2023
PubMed

Insights

Researchers developed a novel near-infrared nanoprobe, D3, for real-time imaging of cellular senescence. This probe specifically detects senescence-associated reactive oxygen species (ROS) in tumors, offering a new tool for aging and cancer research.

Area of Science:

  • Biomedical Engineering
  • Molecular Imaging
  • Cell Biology

Background:

  • Cellular senescence is a state of irreversible cell-cycle arrest implicated in aging and cancer.
  • Reactive oxygen species (ROS) play a critical role in the induction and maintenance of senescence.
  • Current methods for detecting senescence in vivo are limited.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To design and validate a novel near-infrared fluorogenic nanoprobe (D3) for real-time imaging of cellular senescence.
  • To investigate the specificity of D3 for senescence-associated ROS.
  • To assess the utility of D3 for imaging senescent tumors in vivo.

Main Methods:

  • Design and synthesis of the D3 nanoprobe, a near-infrared fluorogenic probe activated by high ROS levels.
  • In vitro validation of D3's activation mechanism by ROS.
  • Systemic injection of D3 into senescent tumor-bearing mice for in vivo imaging.
  • Quantification of fluorescence signal in senescent versus non-senescent tumors.

Main Results:

  • The D3 nanoprobe exhibits fluorescence only in the presence of highly elevated ROS levels, characteristic of senescent cells.
  • D3 specifically accumulates in senescent tumors after systemic administration.
  • Fluorescence signal intensity in senescent tumors was 3-fold higher than in non-senescent tumors.
  • Non-senescent cells remained optically silent due to low ROS levels.

Conclusions:

  • The D3 nanoprobe represents a novel and powerful tool for non-invasive, real-time imaging and assessment of cellular senescence in living organisms.
  • This technology has significant potential for advancing research in aging and cancer by enabling precise identification of senescent cells and tumors.
  • The unique activation mechanism of D3 provides a new strategy for developing targeted molecular imaging agents.

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