Cathepsin B Activatable Fluorescent Probe for Antitumor Efficiency Feedback: Attempt To Detect Certain Apoptotic...

Area of Science:

• Biomedical Engineering
• Molecular Imaging
• Cancer Therapy Monitoring

Background:

• Apoptosis detection is crucial for evaluating tumor therapy effectiveness.
• Cathepsins are released during apoptosis and can serve as biomarkers.
• Existing fluorescent probes lack cathepsin-activatability for enhanced imaging.

Purpose of the Study:

• To design and validate a cathepsin B (CTSB)-activatable fluorescent probe (A-DCO) for apoptosis detection.
• To develop nanoparticle-encapsulated A-DCO (A-DCO NPs) for improved tumor cell imaging.
• To assess the efficacy of A-DCO NPs in evaluating tumor treatment outcomes.

Main Methods:

• Design of a CTSB-activatable fluorescent probe, A-DCO.
• Encapsulation of A-DCO into nanoparticles (NPs).
• Detection of apoptotic tumor cells using A-DCO NPs via flow cytometry and in vivo imaging.

Main Results:

• A-DCO NPs successfully distinguished tumor cells and enhanced fluorescence upon drug stimulation.
• A-DCO NPs effectively detected apoptotic 4T1 and MCF-7 tumor cells.
• In vivo studies confirmed rapid detection and metabolism of A-DCO NPs, providing timely and safe feedback.

Conclusions:

• A-DCO NPs offer a novel tool for detecting tumor cell apoptosis and monitoring treatment efficacy.
• The developed probe provides accurate, timely, and safe feedback for cancer therapy.
• This study inspires future fluorescent probe design for apoptosis detection.