Two birds with one stone: a NIR fluorescent probe for mitochondrial protein imaging and its application in photodynamic therapy

J Mater Chem B. 2021 Aug 4;9(30):6068-6075. doi: 10.1039/d1tb00881a.

Abstract

Mitochondrial proteins, most of which are encoded in the nucleus and the rest of which are regulated by the mitochondrial genome, play pivotal roles in essential cellular functions. However, fluorescent probes that can be used for monitoring mitochondrial proteins have not yet been widely developed, thereby severely limiting the exploration of the functions of proteins in mitochondria. Towards this end, here we propose a near-infrared (NIR) fluorescence probe MPP to effectively illuminate the dynamic changes in mitochondrial proteins in live cells under oxidative stress, with excellent temporal and spatial resolution. Of particular importance, MPP extends the study of the pharmacology involved in apoptosis induced by anti-cancer drugs (hydroxycamptothecin (HCPT), epirubicin (Epi) and cyclophosphamide (CPA)) for the first time. Furthermore, employing a protein-activatable strategy, this probe could serve as an excellent phototherapeutic agent in photodynamic therapy (PDT). Finally, in vivo experiments suggest that this versatile probe can be used to image tumors in HeLa tumor-bearing mice for 24 h, which demonstrates that our probe could play a dual role as a robust phototherapeutic and imaging agent.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Aniline Compounds / chemical synthesis
  • Aniline Compounds / chemistry
  • Aniline Compounds / pharmacology*
  • Antineoplastic Agents / chemical synthesis
  • Antineoplastic Agents / chemistry
  • Antineoplastic Agents / pharmacology*
  • Camptothecin / analogs & derivatives
  • Camptothecin / chemistry
  • Camptothecin / pharmacology
  • Cell Line
  • Cell Survival / drug effects
  • Cyclophosphamide / chemistry
  • Cyclophosphamide / pharmacology
  • Drug Screening Assays, Antitumor
  • Epirubicin / chemistry
  • Epirubicin / pharmacology
  • Fluorescent Dyes / chemical synthesis
  • Fluorescent Dyes / chemistry
  • Fluorescent Dyes / pharmacology*
  • Humans
  • Infrared Rays
  • Mitochondrial Proteins / analysis*
  • Molecular Structure
  • Optical Imaging*
  • Photochemotherapy*
  • Photosensitizing Agents / chemical synthesis
  • Photosensitizing Agents / chemistry
  • Photosensitizing Agents / pharmacology*

Substances

  • Aniline Compounds
  • Antineoplastic Agents
  • Fluorescent Dyes
  • Mitochondrial Proteins
  • Photosensitizing Agents
  • hydroxycamptothecinum
  • Epirubicin
  • Cyclophosphamide
  • Camptothecin