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Updated: Jun 26, 2025
Detection and Monitoring of Tumor Associated Circulating DNA in Patient Biofluids
Published on: June 8, 2019
Carboxylesterase Activatable Molecular Probe for Personalized Treatment Guidance by Analyte-Induced Molecular
Benhao Li1,2,3,4, Hengke Liu1, Mengyao Zhao2,3,4
1Marshall Laboratory of Biomedical Engineering, International Cancer Center, Laboratory of Evolutionary Theranostics (LET), School of Biomedical Engineering, Shenzhen University Medical School, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, 518055, China.
Abstract:
Accurate visualization of tumor microenvironment is of great significance for personalized medicine. Here, we develop a near-infrared (NIR) fluorescence/photoacoustic (FL/PA) dual-mode molecular probe (denoted as NIR-CE) for distinguishing tumors based on carboxylesterase (CE) level by an analyte-induced molecular transformation (AIMT) strategy. The recognition moiety for CE activity is the acetyl unit of NIR-CE, generating the pre-product, NIR-CE-OH, which undergoes spontaneous hydrogen atom exchange between the nitrogen atoms in the indole group and the phenol hydroxyl group, eventually transforming into NIR-CE-H. In cellular experiments and in vivo blind studies, the human hepatoma cells and tumors with high level of CE were successfully distinguished by both NIR FL and PA imaging. Our findings provide a new molecular imaging strategy for personalized treatment guidance.
