Mitochondria-Immobilized Unimolecular Fluorescent Probe for Multiplexing Imaging of Living Cancer Cells

Abstract

Cancer incidence and mortality are fast growing worldwide. Recently, multiplexing imaging methods have been reported to be vital for cancer diagnosis and therapy. Fluorescence imaging, which has intrinsic capabilities for multiplexing imaging, is suitable and ripe for cancer imaging. In biomedical research, using a single probe for multiplexing imaging can avoid larger invasive effects and ensure the same spatiotemporal distributions and metabolisms of the probes, which has advantages over using multiple probes. Therefore, developing unimolecular fluorescent probes for multiplexing imaging of living cancer cells is meaningful. We herein report a unimolecular fluorescent probe (ZED) that simultaneously detects cysteine/homocysteine, hypochlorous acid, mitochondrial membrane potential (Δψ m ), and opening of the mitochondrial permeability transition (MPT) pore in cells. These four analytes are key indicators predominantly associated with multiple aspects of carcinogenesis and cancer therapy in living cells. Besides, ZED also differentiates MCF-7 cells from HBL-100 cells. The sensing process is fast, selective, and sensitive in living cancer cells. As far as we know, ZED is the first probe that simultaneously detects four analytes in cells and the first probe that simultaneously detects Δψ m and opening of the MPT pore in mitochondria.

Charge-Dependent Strategy Enables a Single Fluorescent Probe to Study the Interaction Relationship between Mitochondria and Lipid Droplets

“…Both mitochondria and lipid droplets (LDs) are important organelles in cells, each of which has its specific function. As an energy factory inside the cell, the mitochondria provide major energy for a variety of physiological activities within the cell. − On the other hand, LDs are the main storage site for neutral lipids in cells that play an important role in lipid metabolism and storage membrane transporter degradation. − Meanwhile, mitochondria and LDs also interact with one another in certain biological processes. − For instance, the mitochondria and LDs of the mice liver could work together to maintain the body temperature . Meanwhile, the coat proteins of LDs, PLIN5, which are involved in lipolysis, are also present in mitochondria .…”

Recent Progress in the Rational Design of Biothiol-Responsive Fluorescent Probes

“…Owing to its high sensitivity, favorable selectivity, fast response, and moderate biocompatibility, probe 41 was used to track the endogenous and exogenous GSH in MCF-7 cells, and its ability to avoid interference from Cys was also verified in the imaging experiments. The Feng group developed a unimolecular fluorescent probe 42 ( ZED ) based on a coumarin-rhodamine FRET platform with NBD and hydrazide as the Cys/Hcy and HClO sensing sites, respectively ( Scheme 16 ) [ 90 ]. With imidazolium used as the targeting group for mitochondria, probe 42 was applied to track the Cys/Hcy, HOCl, Δψm, and opening of the MPT pore by four channels without any crosstalk.…”

Synthesis and Application of a Near-Infrared Light-Emitting Fluorescent Probe for Specific Imaging of Cancer Cells with High Sensitivity and Selectivity

“…4 With the continuous development of optical imaging technology for decades, it has been widely used in the preclinical diagnosis and treatment of cancer in biomedical research. [5][6][7][8] Nanomaterials for optical imaging, such as nano clusters, 9 silicon dioxide, carbon dots and magnetic materials, 10,11 have always been the focus of cancer diagnosis research because of their uniqueness. 12 The intrinsic optical properties of nanoparticles make them quickly become the best choice for various cell imaging modes.…”