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Visualizing lysosomal viscosity in atherosclerosis with a long-wavelength and large Stokes shift fluorescent probe
Xue Wu1, Junjie Kou1, Ruixin Zhang1
1College of Chemistry, Chemical Engineering and Materials Science, Key Laboratory of Molecular and Nano Probes, Ministry of Education, Institutes of Biomedical Sciences, Shandong Normal University, Jinan 250014, Shandong, People's Republic of China. 1031208296@qq.com.
Chemical Communications (Cambridge, England)
|January 7, 2026
Summary
We created a new fluorescent probe (QV-S) that changes color with viscosity. This tool helps visualize changes in inflammatory cells and image atherosclerotic plaques in mice.
Area of Science:
- Biomedical Engineering
- Chemical Biology
- Medical Imaging
Background:
- Lysosomal viscosity is a key indicator of cellular health and disease.
- Changes in lysosomal viscosity are implicated in inflammatory processes and atherosclerosis.
- Existing imaging techniques lack the sensitivity and specificity to monitor these changes in real-time.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop a novel near-infrared (NIR) fluorescent probe for viscosity sensing.
- To enable real-time monitoring of lysosomal viscosity.
- To facilitate precise imaging of atherosclerotic plaques.
Main Methods:
- Development of a viscosity-activated NIR fluorescent probe (QV-S).
- Characterization of probe properties: emission wavelength, Stokes shift, and viscosity sensitivity.
- In vitro studies using inflammatory and foam cells.
- In vivo imaging of atherosclerotic plaques in ApoE-/- mouse aortas.
Main Results:
- QV-S exhibits a long emission wavelength (815 nm) and large Stokes shift (135 nm).
- The probe demonstrates high viscosity sensitivity with a 431-fold signal enhancement.
- QV-S successfully monitored lysosomal viscosity changes in inflammatory and foam cells.
- Precise imaging of atherosclerotic plaques was achieved in mouse models.
Conclusions:
- QV-S is a potent tool for real-time monitoring of lysosomal viscosity.
- The probe enables specific imaging of atherosclerotic plaques.
- QV-S has significant potential for diagnosing and studying inflammatory diseases and atherosclerosis.
