Imaging Hg²⁺-Induced Oxidative Stress by NIR Molecular Probe with “Dual-Key-and-Lock” Strategy

Abstract

Mercury (Hg) is considered an extremely toxic heavy metal which is extremely harmful to both the human body and environment. In addition, Hg2+-induced oxidative stress also exerts a crucial role to play in pathophysiological mechanisms of mercury toxicity. Thus, efficient and specific fluorescent probes for imaging Hg2+-induced oxidative stress are necessary. In the present study, we rationally design a novel Hg2+-activated and ICT-based NIR emission fluorescent probe NIR-HO for sequentially monitoring the ONOO– level with a “dual-key-and-lock” strategy. The probe NIR-HO showed rapid response and excellent specificity and sensitivity for the detection of Hg2+ and ONOO– in vitro. Cell imaging demonstrated that Hg2+-induced oxidative stress was involved in ONOO– upregulation. Also, GSH, NAC, and EDTA were employed as excellent detoxifying drugs against Hg2+-induced toxicity. Moreover, the probe NIR-HO was successfully used for imaging Hg2+ and ONOO– in vivo. In brief, NIR-HO provides a simple and powerful approach which can be used to image Hg2+-induced oxidative stress in the pathological environment.

Highly Sensitive Near-Infrared Imaging of Peroxynitrite Fluxes in Inflammation Progress

“…The large fluorescence increase might be contributed by the NIR emission and efficient ICT-regulated fluorescence quenching of DDAO-PN. In sharp contrast, DDAO-PN-loaded cells were treated with 1.0 mM SIN-1 and 250 μM minocycline (a ONOO − scavenger), 51,52 fluorescence can be ascribed to the fact that minocycline effectively scavenged the free intracellular ONOO − released by SIN-1, resulting in the fluorescence drop of DDAO-PN. As such, the imaging data and results clearly illustrated that DDAO-PN was able to sensitively monitor adscititious ONOO − in cells.…”

“…The large fluorescence increase might be contributed by the NIR emission and efficient ICT-regulated fluorescence quenching of DDAO-PN. In sharp contrast, DDAO-PN-loaded cells were treated with 1.0 mM SIN-1 and 250 μM minocycline (a ONOO – scavenger), , and the cells displayed a remarkable fluorescence decrease. The decreased fluorescence can be ascribed to the fact that minocycline effectively scavenged the free intracellular ONOO – released by SIN-1, resulting in the fluorescence drop of DDAO-PN.…”

Heterometallic nanomaterials: activity modulation, sensing, imaging and therapy

“…125 As a result, various methods have been developed for its assay in the last decades. 126,127 Recently, Au@Pt NPs 122 and Ag-Cu NPs 128 were prepared for sensitive detection of Hg 2+ . Later on, a Ag-Fe bimetallic-3-(trimethoxysilyl) propyl methacrylate framework was synthesized as a colorimetric probe for determination of Hg 2+ , and further applied for efficient analysis of Hg 2+ in different environmental aqueous media.…”

Recent Advances in Dual‐target‐activated Fluorescent Probes for Biosensing and Bioimaging

“…In 2020, Yang et al developed a dual-locked NIR fluorescent probe (NIR-HO) for sequentially imaging Hg 2 + and ONOO À (Figure 31). [56] Probe NIR-HO was functionalized isophorone malononitrile derivative with diphenylphosphinothioyl moiety. The probe NIR-HO remained inactive due to the cage of hydroxyl groups with thiophosphinate.…”