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Hydroxyl Radical-Activatable NIR-II Ratiometric Fluorescence Probe for Visualization In Vivo Tracking of Oxidative
Lixian Huang1, Jiaqi Lu1, Yidong Bin1
1Key Laboratory for Chemistry and Molecular Engineering of Medicinal Resources (Ministry of Education of China), Collaborative Innovation Center for Guangxi Ethnic Medicine School of Chemistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Guangxi Normal University, Guilin 541004, China.
Researchers developed a novel imaging probe to visualize hydroxyl radical (•OH) dynamics in arthritis. This tool enables early detection of oxidative stress and tracks the effectiveness of treatments like methotrexate, improving arthritis management.
Area of Science:
- Biomedical Imaging
- Nanotechnology
- Molecular Diagnostics
Background:
- Oxidative stress, particularly hydroxyl radical (•OH) elevation, is a key factor in arthritis development and progression.
- Current methods lack the ability to simultaneously visualize •OH dynamics and assess therapeutic responses in real-time.
- Early detection of oxidative stress is crucial for timely arthritis diagnosis and intervention.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop a self-calibrated near-infrared II (NIR-II) ratiometric imaging probe for precise monitoring of •OH.
- To evaluate the probe's capability in capturing early oxidative stress in arthritis models.
- To assess the probe's utility in dynamically tracking therapeutic efficacy during arthritis treatment.
Main Methods:
- Development of a ratiometric probe integrating downconversion nanoparticles (DCNP) and a •OH-responsive dye (Hydro-830).
- Utilized a self-calibrated ratiometric imaging approach based on the signal ratio (F930nm,808Ex/F1550nm,980Ex).
- In vitro and in vivo validation of probe sensitivity, specificity, and performance in an arthritis model, including longitudinal treatment studies with methotrexate (MTX).
Main Results:
- The developed probe demonstrated high sensitivity and specificity towards •OH in vitro.
- The probe successfully detected increased oxidative stress at early inflammatory stages in vivo.
- A decrease in the ratiometric signal correlated with reduced joint swelling, inflammatory markers, and tissue damage following MTX therapy.
Conclusions:
- A self-calibrated NIR-II ratiometric imaging strategy was established for precise oxidative stress monitoring in arthritis.
- This approach enables early molecular diagnosis and dynamic evaluation of therapeutic responses in arthritis.
- The developed imaging paradigm shows promise for diagnosing and monitoring other reactive oxygen species (ROS)-related inflammatory diseases.
