Molecular Probes for Sulfatase Detection and Bio-Imaging

Area of Science:

• Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
• Chemical Biology
• Medical Imaging

Background:

• Sulfatases are key enzymes regulating biomolecule sulfation, with abnormal activity linked to diseases like cancer, tuberculosis, and lysosomal storage disorders.
• These enzymes are vital biomarkers and therapeutic targets due to their roles in human physiology and pathology.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review recent advancements in small-molecule probes for selective sulfatase activity detection and imaging.
• To highlight the design strategies and applications of enzyme-activatable probes for various imaging modalities.

Main Methods:

• Exploration of small-molecule probes utilizing fluorescence, photoacoustic, and bioluminescence imaging modalities.
• Discussion of enzyme-activatable probe mechanisms including self-immolative linkers, ICT, PET, ratiometric sensing, and AIE.
• Review of substrate-based and affinity-based probe designs for various imaging techniques (NIRF/PA, chemiluminescence).

Main Results:

• Development of highly specific and sensitive probes enabling real-time, noninvasive, and deep-tissue imaging of sulfatase activity.
• Demonstration of activity-based sensing for steroid sulfatases (STS) in hormone-related cancers and bacterial sulfatases for mycobacterial differentiation.
• Emerging strategies using nanoprobes and AIEgens show potential for image-guided surgery, diagnostics, and high-throughput screening.

Conclusions:

• Innovations in sulfatase-targeted probes provide a robust framework for activity profiling, disease diagnostics, and inhibitor screening.
• Spatiotemporal visualization of sulfatase activity in vitro and in vivo offers powerful capabilities for therapeutic monitoring.
• This review inspires the development of novel activatable sensors for practical biomedical applications.