1. A self-immolative near-infrared fluorescent probe for identification of cancer cells and facilitating its apoptosis.
- Author
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Zhang, Jinlong, Han, Taihe, Sun, Huipeng, Han, Zehua, Shi, Xuezhao, Gao, Jun, Liu, Xiaoyan, and Zhang, Haixia
- Subjects
CANCER cells ,FLUORESCENT probes ,APOPTOSIS ,CELL imaging ,HYDROGEN sulfide - Abstract
Hydrogen sulfide (H
2 S) plays a significant role in the onset and progression of cancer. It has led to increased interest in its potential as a diagnostic tool owing to its overexpression in cancer. However, research into the anti-cancer activity of H2 S, particularly its ability to promote apoptosis, is hindered by the lack of effective detection tools. To gain a comprehensive understanding of the targeted efficacy of H2 S in promoting cancer cell apoptosis, we designed and synthesized a self-immolative near-infrared fluorescent diagnostic probe, named YH-NO2 . The activation of this self-immolative reaction is dependent on the presence of nitroreductase (NTR) overexpressed in tumor cells. The design of YH-NO2 involves releasing fluorophores through the activated self-immolative reaction for detection, while simultaneously releasing H2 S-loaded self-immolative spacers to promote cancer cell apoptosis. Consequently, YH-NO2 achieves a seamless integration of recognizing and promoting cancer cell apoptosis through its self-immolative structure. This dual function allows YH-NO2 to recognize NTR activity in cells under varying hypoxia levels and differentiate between normal cells and cancer cells using imaging technology. Notably, YH-NO2 exhibits remarkable stability in cellular environments, providing controlled and selective H2 S release, thereby targeting the elimination of cancer cells through the promotion of apoptosis. Furthermore, in vivo experiments have demonstrated that YH-NO2 can accurately identify tumor tissue and effectively reduce its size by utilizing its apoptosis-promoting properties. These findings not only provide further evidence for the anti-cancer activity of H2 S but also offer valuable tools for understanding the complex relationship between H2 S and cancer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]- Published
- 2024
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