Rational construction of a self-assembled nanoprobe for specific imaging ATP in cancer cells

Adenosine triphosphate (ATP) serves as the energy currency unit and plays a crucial role in various cellular processes. While many small molecule fluorescent probes have been successfully developed for detecting ATP, their biological applications have been limited due to the restrictions of specificity of ATP response and targeting cancer cells. This study introduces a novel self-assembled polymer fluorescent nanoprobe, RdB-DETA-HA NPs, specifically designed for the monitoring and imaging of ATP in live cancer cells. The nanoprobe integrates diethylenetriamine-linked rhodamine B as a fluorescence recognition moiety for ATP, covalently incorporated with hyaluronic acid (HA). This innovative design enhances water dispersibility, prevents dye leakage, and significantly improves cancer cell targeting via CD44 receptor-mediated endocytosis. Our results demonstrate the nanoprobe's exceptional ability to specifically target cancer cells and dynamically monitor ATP levels, marking a substantial advancement over traditional small molecule probes. The RdB-DETA-HA NPs show great promise for widespread applications in biomedical research and diagnostic imaging.