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Lee LCC, Lo KKW. Shining New Light on Biological Systems: Luminescent Transition Metal Complexes for Bioimaging and Biosensing Applications. Chem Rev 2024; 124:8825-9014. [PMID: 39052606 PMCID: PMC11328004 DOI: 10.1021/acs.chemrev.3c00629] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/27/2024]
Abstract
Luminescence imaging is a powerful and versatile technique for investigating cell physiology and pathology in living systems, making significant contributions to life science research and clinical diagnosis. In recent years, luminescent transition metal complexes have gained significant attention for diagnostic and therapeutic applications due to their unique photophysical and photochemical properties. In this Review, we provide a comprehensive overview of the recent development of luminescent transition metal complexes for bioimaging and biosensing applications, with a focus on transition metal centers with a d6, d8, and d10 electronic configuration. We elucidate the structure-property relationships of luminescent transition metal complexes, exploring how their structural characteristics can be manipulated to control their biological behavior such as cellular uptake, localization, biocompatibility, pharmacokinetics, and biodistribution. Furthermore, we introduce the various design strategies that leverage the interesting photophysical properties of luminescent transition metal complexes for a wide variety of biological applications, including autofluorescence-free imaging, multimodal imaging, organelle imaging, biological sensing, microenvironment monitoring, bioorthogonal labeling, bacterial imaging, and cell viability assessment. Finally, we provide insights into the challenges and perspectives of luminescent transition metal complexes for bioimaging and biosensing applications, as well as their use in disease diagnosis and treatment evaluation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lawrence Cho-Cheung Lee
- Department of Chemistry, City University of Hong Kong, Tat Chee Avenue, Kowloon, Hong Kong, P. R. China
- Laboratory for Synthetic Chemistry and Chemical Biology Limited, Units 1503-1511, 15/F, Building 17W, Hong Kong Science Park, New Territories, Hong Kong, P. R. China
| | - Kenneth Kam-Wing Lo
- Department of Chemistry, City University of Hong Kong, Tat Chee Avenue, Kowloon, Hong Kong, P. R. China
- State Key Laboratory of Terahertz and Millimeter Waves, City University of Hong Kong, Tat Chee Avenue, Kowloon, Hong Kong, P. R. China
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Ran C, Pu K. Molecularly generated light and its biomedical applications. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2024; 63:e202314468. [PMID: 37955419 DOI: 10.1002/anie.202314468] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/26/2023] [Revised: 11/01/2023] [Accepted: 11/10/2023] [Indexed: 11/14/2023]
Abstract
Molecularly generated light, referred to here as "molecular light", mainly includes bioluminescence, chemiluminescence, and Cerenkov luminescence. Molecular light possesses unique dual features of being both a molecule and a source of light. Its molecular nature enables it to be delivered as molecules to regions deep within the body, overcoming the limitations of natural sunlight and physically generated light sources like lasers and LEDs. Simultaneously, its light properties make it valuable for applications such as imaging, photodynamic therapy, photo-oxidative therapy, and photobiomodulation. In this review article, we provide an updated overview of the diverse applications of molecular light and discuss the strengths and weaknesses of molecular light across various domains. Lastly, we present forward-looking perspectives on the potential of molecular light in the realms of molecular imaging, photobiological mechanisms, therapeutic applications, and photobiomodulation. While some of these perspectives may be considered bold and contentious, our intent is to inspire further innovations in the field of molecular light applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chongzhao Ran
- Athinoula A. Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging, Department of Radiology, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02129, USA
| | - Kanyi Pu
- School of Chemistry, Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology, Nanyang Technological University, 637459, Singapore, Singapore
- Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine, Nanyang Technological University, 308232, Singapore, Singapore
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Zhang J, Wickizer C, Ding W, Van R, Yang L, Zhu B, Yang J, Wang Y, Wang Y, Xu Y, Zhang C, Shen S, Wang C, Shao Y, Ran C. In vivo three-dimensional brain imaging with chemiluminescence probes in Alzheimer's disease models. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2023; 120:e2310131120. [PMID: 38048460 PMCID: PMC10723133 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2310131120] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2023] [Accepted: 11/13/2023] [Indexed: 12/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Optical three-dimensional (3D) molecular imaging is highly desirable for providing precise distribution of the target-of-interest in disease models. However, such 3D imaging is still far from wide applications in biomedical research; 3D brain optical molecular imaging, in particular, has rarely been reported. In this report, we designed chemiluminescence probes with high quantum yields, relatively long emission wavelengths, and high signal-to-noise ratios to fulfill the requirements for 3D brain imaging in vivo. With assistance from density-function theory (DFT) computation, we designed ADLumin-Xs by locking up the rotation of the double bond via fusing the furan ring to the phenyl ring. Our results showed that ADLumin-5 had a high quantum yield of chemiluminescence and could bind to amyloid beta (Aβ). Remarkably, ADLumin-5's radiance intensity in brain areas could reach 4 × 107 photon/s/cm2/sr, which is probably 100-fold higher than most chemiluminescence probes for in vivo imaging. Because of its strong emission, we demonstrated that ADLumin-5 could be used for in vivo 3D brain imaging in transgenic mouse models of Alzheimer's disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jing Zhang
- Department of Radiology, Athinoula A. Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, Boston, MA02129
| | - Carly Wickizer
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Stephenson Life Sciences Research Center, University of Oklahoma, Norman, OK73019
| | - Weihua Ding
- Department of Anesthesia Critical Care and Pain Medicine, MGH Center for Translational Pain Research, Massachusetts General Hospital Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA02114
| | - Richard Van
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Stephenson Life Sciences Research Center, University of Oklahoma, Norman, OK73019
| | - Liuyue Yang
- Department of Anesthesia Critical Care and Pain Medicine, MGH Center for Translational Pain Research, Massachusetts General Hospital Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA02114
| | - Biyue Zhu
- Department of Radiology, Athinoula A. Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, Boston, MA02129
| | - Jun Yang
- Department of Radiology, Athinoula A. Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, Boston, MA02129
| | - Yanli Wang
- Department of Radiology, Athinoula A. Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, Boston, MA02129
| | - Yongle Wang
- Department of Radiology, Athinoula A. Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, Boston, MA02129
| | - Yulong Xu
- Department of Radiology, Athinoula A. Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, Boston, MA02129
| | - Can Zhang
- Genetics and Aging Research Unit, Department of Neurology, McCance Center for Brain Health Mass General Institute for Neurodegenerative Disease, Massachusetts General Hospital Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, MA02129
| | - Shiqian Shen
- Department of Anesthesia Critical Care and Pain Medicine, MGH Center for Translational Pain Research, Massachusetts General Hospital Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA02114
| | - Changning Wang
- Department of Radiology, Athinoula A. Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, Boston, MA02129
| | - Yihan Shao
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Stephenson Life Sciences Research Center, University of Oklahoma, Norman, OK73019
| | - Chongzhao Ran
- Department of Radiology, Athinoula A. Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, Boston, MA02129
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Abstract
Chemiluminescent molecules which emit light in response to a chemical reaction are powerful tools for the detection and measurement of biological analytes and enable the understanding of complex biochemical processes in living systems. Triggerable chemiluminescent 1,2-dioxetanes have been studied and tuned over the past decades to advance quantitative measurement of biological analytes and molecular imaging in live cells and animals. A crucial determinant of success for these 1,2-dioxetane based sensors is their chemical structure, which can be manipulated to achieve desired chemical properties. In this Perspective, we survey the structural space of triggerable 1,2-dioxetane and assess how their design features affect chemiluminescence properties including quantum yield, emission wavelength, and decomposition kinetics. Based on this appraisal, we identify some structural modifications of 1,2-dioxetanes that are ripe for exploration in the context of chemiluminescent biological sensors.
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Wang Q, Zhong J, Li K, Wu J, Wang X, Jiang S, Dai J, Cheng Y. Compact Luminol Chemiluminophores for In Vivo Detection and Imaging of β-Sheet Protein Aggregates. Anal Chem 2023; 95:1065-1073. [PMID: 36542087 DOI: 10.1021/acs.analchem.2c03776] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Protein aggregation has been found in a wide range of neurodegenerative protein-misfolding diseases. The demand for in vivo technologies to identify protein aggregation is at the leading edge for the pathogenic study, diagnostic development, and therapeutic intervention of these devastating disorders. Herein, we report a series of luminol analogues to construct a facile chemiluminescence (CL)-based approach for in vivo detection and imaging of β-sheet protein aggregates. The synthesized compounds exhibited a distinct chemiluminescent response with long emission wavelengths toward reactive oxygen species under physiological conditions and displayed signal amplification in the presence of β-sheet protein aggregates, including α-synuclein, β-amyloid, and tau. Among them, CyLumi-3 was further evaluated as a chemiluminescent probe in preclinical models. By intravenous administration into the model mice via the tail vein, in vivo CL imaging noninvasively detected the specific CL of the probe targeting the α-synuclein aggregates in the brains of living mice. Based on its structural characteristics, CyLumi-3 can readily interact with α-synuclein aggregates with significantly enhanced fluorescence and can identify α-synuclein aggregates in vivo via distinctive CL amplification, which could pave the way for a more comprehensive understanding of protein aggregation in preclinical studies and would provide new hints for developing small-molecule chemiluminophores for protein aggregates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qinyu Wang
- Key Laboratory of Drug-Targeting and Drug Delivery System of the Education Ministry, Sichuan Engineering Laboratory for Plant-Sourced Drug and Sichuan Research Center for Drug Precision Industrial Technology, West China School of Pharmacy, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China
| | - Jing Zhong
- Key Laboratory of Drug-Targeting and Drug Delivery System of the Education Ministry, Sichuan Engineering Laboratory for Plant-Sourced Drug and Sichuan Research Center for Drug Precision Industrial Technology, West China School of Pharmacy, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China
| | - Kexin Li
- Key Laboratory of Drug-Targeting and Drug Delivery System of the Education Ministry, Sichuan Engineering Laboratory for Plant-Sourced Drug and Sichuan Research Center for Drug Precision Industrial Technology, West China School of Pharmacy, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China
| | - Jiajun Wu
- Key Laboratory of Drug-Targeting and Drug Delivery System of the Education Ministry, Sichuan Engineering Laboratory for Plant-Sourced Drug and Sichuan Research Center for Drug Precision Industrial Technology, West China School of Pharmacy, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China
| | - Xiaoxue Wang
- Key Laboratory of Drug-Targeting and Drug Delivery System of the Education Ministry, Sichuan Engineering Laboratory for Plant-Sourced Drug and Sichuan Research Center for Drug Precision Industrial Technology, West China School of Pharmacy, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China
| | - Shen Jiang
- Key Laboratory of Drug-Targeting and Drug Delivery System of the Education Ministry, Sichuan Engineering Laboratory for Plant-Sourced Drug and Sichuan Research Center for Drug Precision Industrial Technology, West China School of Pharmacy, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China
| | - Jiapei Dai
- Wuhan Institute for Neuroscience and Neuroengineering, South-Central University for Nationalities, Wuhan 430074, China
| | - Yan Cheng
- Key Laboratory of Drug-Targeting and Drug Delivery System of the Education Ministry, Sichuan Engineering Laboratory for Plant-Sourced Drug and Sichuan Research Center for Drug Precision Industrial Technology, West China School of Pharmacy, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China
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Gao J, Chen Z, Li X, Yang M, Lv J, Li H, Yuan Z. Chemiluminescence in Combination with Organic Photosensitizers: Beyond the Light Penetration Depth Limit of Photodynamic Therapy. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms232012556. [PMID: 36293406 PMCID: PMC9604449 DOI: 10.3390/ijms232012556] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/18/2022] [Revised: 10/05/2022] [Accepted: 10/18/2022] [Indexed: 12/01/2022] Open
Abstract
Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is a promising noninvasive medical technology that has been approved for the treatment of a variety of diseases, including bacterial and fungal infections, skin diseases, and several types of cancer. In recent decades, many photosensitizers have been developed and applied in PDT. However, PDT is still limited by light penetration depth, although many near-infrared photosensitizers have emerged. The chemiluminescence-mediated PDT (CL-PDT) system has recently received attention because it does not require an external light source to achieve targeted PDT. This review focuses on the rational design of organic CL-PDT systems. Specifically, PDT types, light wavelength, the chemiluminescence concept and principle, and the design of CL-PDT systems are introduced. Furthermore, chemiluminescent fraction examples, strategies for combining chemiluminescence with PDT, and current cellular and animal applications are highlighted. Finally, the current challenges and possible solutions to CL-PDT systems are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jie Gao
- Key Laboratory of Basic Pharmacology of Ministry of Education and Joint International Research Laboratory of Ethnomedicine of Ministry of Education, Zunyi Medical University, No.6 West Xuefu Road, Xinpu District, Zunyi 563000, China
- Key Laboratory of Biocatalysis & Chiral Drug Synthesis of Guizhou Province, School of Pharmacy, Zunyi Medical University, No.6 West Xuefu Road, Xinpu District, Zunyi 563000, China
- Guizhou International Scientific and Technological Cooperation Base for Medical Photo-Theranostics Technology and Innovative Drug Development, Zunyi Medical University, No.6 West Xuefu Road, Xinpu District, Zunyi 563000, China
- Correspondence: (J.G.); (Z.Y.)
| | - Zhengjun Chen
- Key Laboratory of Basic Pharmacology of Ministry of Education and Joint International Research Laboratory of Ethnomedicine of Ministry of Education, Zunyi Medical University, No.6 West Xuefu Road, Xinpu District, Zunyi 563000, China
- Key Laboratory of Biocatalysis & Chiral Drug Synthesis of Guizhou Province, School of Pharmacy, Zunyi Medical University, No.6 West Xuefu Road, Xinpu District, Zunyi 563000, China
- Guizhou International Scientific and Technological Cooperation Base for Medical Photo-Theranostics Technology and Innovative Drug Development, Zunyi Medical University, No.6 West Xuefu Road, Xinpu District, Zunyi 563000, China
| | - Xinmin Li
- Key Laboratory of Basic Pharmacology of Ministry of Education and Joint International Research Laboratory of Ethnomedicine of Ministry of Education, Zunyi Medical University, No.6 West Xuefu Road, Xinpu District, Zunyi 563000, China
- Key Laboratory of Biocatalysis & Chiral Drug Synthesis of Guizhou Province, School of Pharmacy, Zunyi Medical University, No.6 West Xuefu Road, Xinpu District, Zunyi 563000, China
- Guizhou International Scientific and Technological Cooperation Base for Medical Photo-Theranostics Technology and Innovative Drug Development, Zunyi Medical University, No.6 West Xuefu Road, Xinpu District, Zunyi 563000, China
| | - Mingyan Yang
- Key Laboratory of Basic Pharmacology of Ministry of Education and Joint International Research Laboratory of Ethnomedicine of Ministry of Education, Zunyi Medical University, No.6 West Xuefu Road, Xinpu District, Zunyi 563000, China
- Key Laboratory of Biocatalysis & Chiral Drug Synthesis of Guizhou Province, School of Pharmacy, Zunyi Medical University, No.6 West Xuefu Road, Xinpu District, Zunyi 563000, China
- Guizhou International Scientific and Technological Cooperation Base for Medical Photo-Theranostics Technology and Innovative Drug Development, Zunyi Medical University, No.6 West Xuefu Road, Xinpu District, Zunyi 563000, China
| | - Jiajia Lv
- Key Laboratory of Basic Pharmacology of Ministry of Education and Joint International Research Laboratory of Ethnomedicine of Ministry of Education, Zunyi Medical University, No.6 West Xuefu Road, Xinpu District, Zunyi 563000, China
- Key Laboratory of Biocatalysis & Chiral Drug Synthesis of Guizhou Province, School of Pharmacy, Zunyi Medical University, No.6 West Xuefu Road, Xinpu District, Zunyi 563000, China
- Guizhou International Scientific and Technological Cooperation Base for Medical Photo-Theranostics Technology and Innovative Drug Development, Zunyi Medical University, No.6 West Xuefu Road, Xinpu District, Zunyi 563000, China
| | - Hongyu Li
- Key Laboratory of Basic Pharmacology of Ministry of Education and Joint International Research Laboratory of Ethnomedicine of Ministry of Education, Zunyi Medical University, No.6 West Xuefu Road, Xinpu District, Zunyi 563000, China
- Key Laboratory of Biocatalysis & Chiral Drug Synthesis of Guizhou Province, School of Pharmacy, Zunyi Medical University, No.6 West Xuefu Road, Xinpu District, Zunyi 563000, China
- Guizhou International Scientific and Technological Cooperation Base for Medical Photo-Theranostics Technology and Innovative Drug Development, Zunyi Medical University, No.6 West Xuefu Road, Xinpu District, Zunyi 563000, China
| | - Zeli Yuan
- Key Laboratory of Basic Pharmacology of Ministry of Education and Joint International Research Laboratory of Ethnomedicine of Ministry of Education, Zunyi Medical University, No.6 West Xuefu Road, Xinpu District, Zunyi 563000, China
- Key Laboratory of Biocatalysis & Chiral Drug Synthesis of Guizhou Province, School of Pharmacy, Zunyi Medical University, No.6 West Xuefu Road, Xinpu District, Zunyi 563000, China
- Guizhou International Scientific and Technological Cooperation Base for Medical Photo-Theranostics Technology and Innovative Drug Development, Zunyi Medical University, No.6 West Xuefu Road, Xinpu District, Zunyi 563000, China
- Correspondence: (J.G.); (Z.Y.)
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Kumar J, Roy I. Highly Selective and Sensitive Ratiometric Detection of Sn 2+ Ions Using NIR-Excited Rhodamine-B-Linked Upconversion Nanophosphors. ACS OMEGA 2022; 7:29840-29849. [PMID: 36061706 PMCID: PMC9434793 DOI: 10.1021/acsomega.2c02671] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/29/2022] [Accepted: 08/04/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Detection of Sn2+ ions in environmental and biological samples is essential owing to the toxicological risk posed by excess use tin worldwide. Herein, we have designed a nanoprobe involving upconversion nanophosphors linked with a rhodamine-based fluorophore, which is selectively sensitive to the presence of Sn2+ ions. Upon excitation with near-infrared (NIR) light, the green emission of the nanophosphor is reabsorbed by the fluorophore with an efficiency that varies directly with the concentration of the Sn2+ ions. We have explored this NIR-excited fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) process for the quantitative and ratiometric detection of Sn2+ ions in an aqueous phase. We have observed an excellent linear correlation between the ratiometric emission signal variation and the Sn2+ ion concentration in the lower micromolar range. The detection limit of Sn2+ ions observed using our FRET-based nanoprobe is about 10 times lower than that observed using other colorimetric or fluorescence-based techniques. Due to the minimal autofluorescence and great penetration depth of NIR light, this method is ideally suited for the selective and ultrasensitive detection of Sn2+ ions in complex biological or environmental samples.
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