Arthritis is a joint disorder that potentially causes permanent joint damage and eventual disability without effective treatment. Clinical detection methods, including in vitro blood tests and anatomical imaging, still have limitations in achieving real-time in situ early detection of arthritis. In this work, a dual-channel luminescence nanoprobe (AGNPs-Cy7) is reported, which combines a cyanine dye and a photochemical reaction-based afterglow system for real-time in vivo imaging of arthritis. AGNPs-Cy7 simultaneously detect hypochlorous acid (HOCl) and temperature, two important indicators associated with the early development of arthritis, by monitoring the respective changes in independent ratiometric fluorescence and afterglow lifetime signals. The anti-interference properties of both the ratiometric fluorescence signal and afterglow lifetime signal enhance sensing accuracy compared to the single luminescence intensity. The developed probe successfully reveals the simultaneous increase in HOCl concentration and temperature in an arthritis mouse model.
Keywords: afterglow lifetime imaging; arthritis model; detection of hypochlorous acid and temperature; dual-channel nanoprobe; ratiometric fluorescence imaging.