From urinalysis to photoacoustic imaging: A versatile probe for malondialdehyde in atherosclerosis
Jinhui Shang1, Fangkun Yang2, Hanbin Cui2
1Department of Cardiology, First Affiliated Hospital of Ningbo University, School of Medicine, Ningbo University, Ningbo 315211, China; Key Laboratory of Precision Prevention and Treatment for Atherosclerotic Diseases of Zhejiang Province, Ningbo 315211, China; State Key Laboratory for Chemo/ Bio-Sensing and Chemometrics, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Hunan University, Changsha 410082, China.
Abstract:
Malondialdehyde (MDA) is a key biomarker of lipid peroxidation and oxidative stress, playing a significant role in the progression of inflammatory and cardiovascular diseases, including atherosclerosis. A hemicyanine-based optical probe, designated as MP, was developed for the detection of MDA through a spiropyran ring-opening mechanism. The probe exhibited negligible absorption and photoacoustic signals in its resting state, which were substantially enhanced upon reaction with MDA. A linear concentration-dependent photoacoustic response was observed, and the detection sensitivity was further improved under optimized extreme conditions. The probe enabled clear differentiation between atherosclerotic mice with and without acute lung injury through in vivo photoacoustic imaging of the aortic region, which was validated by ex vivo histological analyses including CD68 and MDA staining of aortic plaques. Minimal toxicity was observed in major organs. Furthermore, the probe successfully distinguished urine samples from atherosclerotic patients from those of healthy controls. These results demonstrate that MP is a promising tool for MDA detection with potential for clinical translation.
