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Huang D, Zou Y, Huang H, Yin J, Long S, Sun W, Du J, Fan J, Chen X, Peng X. A PROTAC Augmenter for Photo-Driven Pyroptosis in Breast Cancer. ADVANCED MATERIALS (DEERFIELD BEACH, FLA.) 2024; 36:e2313460. [PMID: 38364230 DOI: 10.1002/adma.202313460] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/11/2023] [Revised: 02/15/2024] [Indexed: 02/18/2024]
Abstract
Proteolysis targeting chimera (PROTAC) has recently emerged as a promising strategy for inducing post-translational knockdown of target proteins in disease treatment. The degradation of bromodomain-containing protein 4 (BRD4), an essential nuclear protein for gene transcription, induced by PROTAC is proposed as an epigenetic approach to treat breast cancer. However, the poor membrane permeability and indiscriminate distribution of PROTAC in vivo results in low bioavailability, limiting its development and application. Herein, a nano "targeting chimera" (abbreviated as L@NBMZ) consisting of BRD4-PROTAC combined with a photosensitizer, to serve as the first augmenter for photo-driven pyroptosis in breast cancer, is developed. With excellent BRD4 degradation ability, high biosafety, and biocompatibility, L@NBMZ blocks gene transcription by degrading BRD4 through proteasomes in vivo, and surprisingly, induces the cleavage of caspase-3. This type of caspase-3 cleavage is synergistically amplified by light irradiation in the presence of photosensitizers, leading to efficient photo-driven pyroptosis. Both in vitro and in vivo outcomes demonstrate the remarkable anti-cancer efficacy of this augmenter, which significantly inhibits the lung metastasis of breast cancer in vivo. Thus, the photo-PROTAC "targeting chimera" augmenter construction strategy may pave a new way for expanding PROTAC applications within anti-cancer paradigms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daipeng Huang
- State Key Laboratory of Fine Chemicals, Frontiers Science Center for Smart Materials Oriented Chemical Engineering, Dalian University of Technology, Dalian, 116024, P. R. China
| | - Yang Zou
- State Key Laboratory of Fine Chemicals, Frontiers Science Center for Smart Materials Oriented Chemical Engineering, Dalian University of Technology, Dalian, 116024, P. R. China
| | - Haiqiao Huang
- State Key Laboratory of Fine Chemicals, Frontiers Science Center for Smart Materials Oriented Chemical Engineering, Dalian University of Technology, Dalian, 116024, P. R. China
- State Key Laboratory of Fine Chemicals, College of Materials Science and Engineering, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, 518071, P. R. China
| | - Jikai Yin
- State Key Laboratory of Fine Chemicals, Frontiers Science Center for Smart Materials Oriented Chemical Engineering, Dalian University of Technology, Dalian, 116024, P. R. China
| | - Saran Long
- State Key Laboratory of Fine Chemicals, Frontiers Science Center for Smart Materials Oriented Chemical Engineering, Dalian University of Technology, Dalian, 116024, P. R. China
| | - Wen Sun
- State Key Laboratory of Fine Chemicals, Frontiers Science Center for Smart Materials Oriented Chemical Engineering, Dalian University of Technology, Dalian, 116024, P. R. China
| | - Jianjun Du
- State Key Laboratory of Fine Chemicals, Frontiers Science Center for Smart Materials Oriented Chemical Engineering, Dalian University of Technology, Dalian, 116024, P. R. China
| | - Jiangli Fan
- State Key Laboratory of Fine Chemicals, Frontiers Science Center for Smart Materials Oriented Chemical Engineering, Dalian University of Technology, Dalian, 116024, P. R. China
| | - Xiaoqiang Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Fine Chemicals, College of Materials Science and Engineering, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, 518071, P. R. China
| | - Xiaojun Peng
- State Key Laboratory of Fine Chemicals, Frontiers Science Center for Smart Materials Oriented Chemical Engineering, Dalian University of Technology, Dalian, 116024, P. R. China
- State Key Laboratory of Fine Chemicals, College of Materials Science and Engineering, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, 518071, P. R. China
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2
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Yu Z, Wang Y, Cai M, Chen J, Zou Q, Fan Q, Zhang L. Plasmonic nanoprobes on single AuNTs for evaluating and monitoring the dynamic release of 2D drug carriers. J Mater Chem B 2023; 11:11164-11172. [PMID: 37982293 DOI: 10.1039/d3tb02255b] [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: 11/21/2023]
Abstract
The use of nanomaterials in drug delivery has gained significant attention in recent years. In this project, we developed a novel localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) nanoprobe on single gold triangular nanoplates (AuNTs) for dynamic monitoring of the drug carrier release process. Graphene, as the drug carrier, could be immobilized on the AuNT surface through the π-π* stacking effect. Upon loading or releasing the model drug (doxorubicin, DOX), subtle changes in the local microenvironment's dielectric constant around the AuNTs induced notable red-shifts or blue-shifts in the LSPR scattering spectra of single AuNTs. Furthermore, the spectral shifts led to a continuous enhancement in the red channel of the dark field microscopy (DFM) images during the drug release process in vitro, demonstrating that the drug release system is not susceptible to potential confounding factors. These release kinetics results under different conditions could be well-fitted using the Higuchi desorption model, further proving that this nanoprobe could be employed for evaluating the controlled release ability of 2D nanocarriers. These findings are expected to inspire new ideas and technologies in the preparation of more effective drug carriers, making a significant contribution to the development of drug delivery nanosystems and nanomedicine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zejie Yu
- State Key Laboratory of Organic Electronics and Information Displays & Institute of Advanced Materials (IAM), Nanjing University of Posts & Telecommunications, Nanjing 210023, China.
| | - Yi Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Organic Electronics and Information Displays & Institute of Advanced Materials (IAM), Nanjing University of Posts & Telecommunications, Nanjing 210023, China.
| | - Miaomiao Cai
- State Key Laboratory of Organic Electronics and Information Displays & Institute of Advanced Materials (IAM), Nanjing University of Posts & Telecommunications, Nanjing 210023, China.
| | - Jiachang Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Organic Electronics and Information Displays & Institute of Advanced Materials (IAM), Nanjing University of Posts & Telecommunications, Nanjing 210023, China.
| | - Qirong Zou
- State Key Laboratory of Organic Electronics and Information Displays & Institute of Advanced Materials (IAM), Nanjing University of Posts & Telecommunications, Nanjing 210023, China.
| | - Quli Fan
- State Key Laboratory of Organic Electronics and Information Displays & Institute of Advanced Materials (IAM), Nanjing University of Posts & Telecommunications, Nanjing 210023, China.
| | - Lei Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Organic Electronics and Information Displays & Institute of Advanced Materials (IAM), Nanjing University of Posts & Telecommunications, Nanjing 210023, China.
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3
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Zhang H, Shi C, Han F, Cai L, Ma H, Long S, Sun W, Du J, Fan J, Chen X, Peng X. Synchronized activating therapeutic nano-agent: Enhancement and tracing for hypoxia-induced chemotherapy. Biomaterials 2023; 302:122365. [PMID: 37890436 DOI: 10.1016/j.biomaterials.2023.122365] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/25/2023] [Revised: 10/15/2023] [Accepted: 10/20/2023] [Indexed: 10/29/2023]
Abstract
Prodrug is a potential regime to overcome serious adverse events and off-target effects of chemotherapy agents. Among various prodrug activators, hypoxia stands out owing to the generalizability and prominence in tumor micro-environment. However, existing hypoxia activating prodrugs generally face the limitations of stringent structural requirements, the lack of feedback and the singularity of therapeutic modality, which is imputed to the traditional paradigm that recognition groups must be located at the terminus of prodrugs. Herein, a multifunctional nano-prodrug Mal@Cy-NTR-CB has been designed. In this nano-prodrug, a self-destructive tether is introduced to break the mindset, and achieves the activation by hypoxia of chemotherapy based on Chlorambucil (CB), whose efficacy can be augmented and traced by photodynamic therapy (PDT) and fluorescence from Cyanine dyes (Cy). In addition, Maleimide (Mal) carried by the nano-shells can regulate glutathione (GSH) content, preventing 1O2 scavenging, so as to realize PDT sensitization. Experiments demonstrate that Mal@Cy-NTR-CB specifically responds to hypoxic tumors, and achieve synchronous activation, enhancement and feedback of chemotherapy and PDT, inhibiting the tumor growth effectively. This study broadens the design ideas of activatable prodrugs and provides the possibility of multifunctional nano-prodrugs to improve the generalization and prognosis in precision oncology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Han Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Fine Chemicals, Frontiers Science Center for Smart Materials, Dalian University of Technology, 2 Linggong Road, Dalian, 116024, China
| | - Chao Shi
- College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Yantai University, Yantai, 264005, China
| | - Fuping Han
- State Key Laboratory of Fine Chemicals, Frontiers Science Center for Smart Materials, Dalian University of Technology, 2 Linggong Road, Dalian, 116024, China
| | - Lihan Cai
- State Key Laboratory of Fine Chemicals, Frontiers Science Center for Smart Materials, Dalian University of Technology, 2 Linggong Road, Dalian, 116024, China
| | - He Ma
- State Key Laboratory of Fine Chemicals, Frontiers Science Center for Smart Materials, Dalian University of Technology, 2 Linggong Road, Dalian, 116024, China
| | - Saran Long
- State Key Laboratory of Fine Chemicals, Frontiers Science Center for Smart Materials, Dalian University of Technology, 2 Linggong Road, Dalian, 116024, China
| | - Wen Sun
- State Key Laboratory of Fine Chemicals, Frontiers Science Center for Smart Materials, Dalian University of Technology, 2 Linggong Road, Dalian, 116024, China
| | - Jianjun Du
- State Key Laboratory of Fine Chemicals, Frontiers Science Center for Smart Materials, Dalian University of Technology, 2 Linggong Road, Dalian, 116024, China
| | - Jiangli Fan
- State Key Laboratory of Fine Chemicals, Frontiers Science Center for Smart Materials, Dalian University of Technology, 2 Linggong Road, Dalian, 116024, China
| | - Xiaoqiang Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Fine Chemicals, College of Materials Science and Engineering, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, 518060, China
| | - Xiaojun Peng
- State Key Laboratory of Fine Chemicals, Frontiers Science Center for Smart Materials, Dalian University of Technology, 2 Linggong Road, Dalian, 116024, China; State Key Laboratory of Fine Chemicals, College of Materials Science and Engineering, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, 518060, China.
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4
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Zeng S, Liu X, Kafuti YS, Kim H, Wang J, Peng X, Li H, Yoon J. Fluorescent dyes based on rhodamine derivatives for bioimaging and therapeutics: recent progress, challenges, and prospects. Chem Soc Rev 2023; 52:5607-5651. [PMID: 37485842 DOI: 10.1039/d2cs00799a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 24.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/25/2023]
Abstract
Since their inception, rhodamine dyes have been extensively applied in biotechnology as fluorescent markers or for the detection of biomolecules owing to their good optical physical properties. Accordingly, they have emerged as a powerful tool for the visualization of living systems. In addition to fluorescence bioimaging, the molecular design of rhodamine derivatives with disease therapeutic functions (e.g., cancer and bacterial infection) has recently attracted increased research attention, which is significantly important for the construction of molecular libraries for diagnostic and therapeutic integration. However, reviews focusing on integrated design strategies for rhodamine dye-based diagnosis and treatment and their wide application in disease treatment are extremely rare. In this review, first, a brief history of the development of rhodamine fluorescent dyes, the transformation of rhodamine fluorescent dyes from bioimaging to disease therapy, and the concept of optics-based diagnosis and treatment integration and its significance to human development are presented. Next, a systematic review of several excellent rhodamine-based derivatives for bioimaging, as well as for disease diagnosis and treatment, is presented. Finally, the challenges in practical integration of rhodamine-based diagnostic and treatment dyes and the future outlook of clinical translation are also discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shuang Zeng
- State Key Laboratory of Fine Chemicals, Frontiers Science Center for Smart Materials Oriented Chemical Engineering, Dalian University of Technology, 2 Linggong Road, Dalian 116024, China.
- School of Bioengineering, Dalian University of Technology, 2 Linggong Road, Hi-tech Zone, Dalian 116024, China
| | - Xiaosheng Liu
- School of Bioengineering, Dalian University of Technology, 2 Linggong Road, Hi-tech Zone, Dalian 116024, China
| | - Yves S Kafuti
- School of Bioengineering, Dalian University of Technology, 2 Linggong Road, Hi-tech Zone, Dalian 116024, China
| | - Heejeong Kim
- Department of Chemistry and Nanoscience, Ewha Womans University, Seoul 03760, Korea.
| | - Jingyun Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Fine Chemicals, Frontiers Science Center for Smart Materials Oriented Chemical Engineering, Dalian University of Technology, 2 Linggong Road, Dalian 116024, China.
- School of Bioengineering, Dalian University of Technology, 2 Linggong Road, Hi-tech Zone, Dalian 116024, China
| | - Xiaojun Peng
- State Key Laboratory of Fine Chemicals, Frontiers Science Center for Smart Materials Oriented Chemical Engineering, Dalian University of Technology, 2 Linggong Road, Dalian 116024, China.
| | - Haidong Li
- State Key Laboratory of Fine Chemicals, Frontiers Science Center for Smart Materials Oriented Chemical Engineering, Dalian University of Technology, 2 Linggong Road, Dalian 116024, China.
- School of Bioengineering, Dalian University of Technology, 2 Linggong Road, Hi-tech Zone, Dalian 116024, China
- Provincial Key Laboratory of Interdisciplinary Medical Engineering for Gastrointestinal Carcinoma, Cancer Hospital of Dalian University of Technology (Liaoning Cancer Hospital & Institute), Shenyang, Liaoning 110042, China
| | - Juyoung Yoon
- Department of Chemistry and Nanoscience, Ewha Womans University, Seoul 03760, Korea.
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5
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Kim H, Yang M, Kwon N, Cho M, Han J, Wang R, Qi S, Li H, Nguyen V, Li X, Cheng H, Yoon J. Recent progress on photodynamic therapy and photothermal therapy. B KOREAN CHEM SOC 2022. [DOI: 10.1002/bkcs.12655] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Heejeong Kim
- Department of Chemistry and Nanoscience Ewha Womans University Seoul South Korea
| | - Mengyao Yang
- Department of Chemistry and Nanoscience Ewha Womans University Seoul South Korea
| | - Nahyun Kwon
- Department of Chemistry and Nanoscience Ewha Womans University Seoul South Korea
| | - Moonyeon Cho
- Department of Chemistry and Nanoscience Ewha Womans University Seoul South Korea
| | - Jingjing Han
- Department of Chemistry and Nanoscience Ewha Womans University Seoul South Korea
| | - Rui Wang
- Department of Chemistry and Nanoscience Ewha Womans University Seoul South Korea
| | - Sujie Qi
- Department of Chemistry and Nanoscience Ewha Womans University Seoul South Korea
| | - Haidong Li
- School of Bioengineering Dalian University of Technology Dalian China
| | - Van‐Nghia Nguyen
- Department of Chemistry and Nanoscience Ewha Womans University Seoul South Korea
| | - Xingshu Li
- College of Chemistry, State Key Laboratory of Photocatalysis for Energy and the Environment, Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory for Cancer Metastasis Chemoprevention and Chemotherapy Fuzhou University Fuzhou China
| | - Hong‐Bo Cheng
- State Key Laboratory of Organic−Inorganic Composites, Beijing Laboratory of Biomedical Materials, College of Materials Science and Engineering Beijing University of Chemical Technology Beijing P. R. China
| | - Juyoung Yoon
- Department of Chemistry and Nanoscience Ewha Womans University Seoul South Korea
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6
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Yang DC, Yang XZ, Luo CM, Wen LF, Liu JY, Lin Z. A promising strategy for synergistic cancer therapy by integrating a photosensitizer into a hypoxia-activated prodrug. Eur J Med Chem 2022; 243:114749. [PMID: 36115207 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmech.2022.114749] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/02/2022] [Revised: 08/28/2022] [Accepted: 09/03/2022] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
Herein, we fabricate a multifunctional molecular prodrug BAC where the chemotherapeutical agent camptothecin (CPT) is linked with a boron dipyrromethene (BODIPY)-based photosensitizer by an azobenzene chain which is sensitive to over-expressed azoreductase in hypoxic tumor cells. This prodrug was further loaded into biodegradable monomethoxy poly(ethylene glycol)-b-poly(caprolactone) (mPEG-b-PCL) to improve its solubility and tumor accumulation. The formed BAC nanoparticles (BAC NPs) can destroy aerobic tumor cells with relatively short distance from blood vessels by photodynamic therapy (PDT) under illumination. The PDT action inevitably leads to consumption of O2, and subsequently acute hypoxia which can induce cleavage of azobenzene linkage to boost release of CPT killing the other hypoxic interior tumor cells survived from PDT. Both in vitro and in vivo studies have verified that BAC NPs possess remarkable antitumor activity by a synergistic action of PDT and chemotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- De-Chao Yang
- National & Local Joint Biomedical Engineering Research Center on Photodynamic Technologies, College of Chemistry, Fuzhou University, Fuzhou, 350108, China
| | - Xiao-Zhen Yang
- National & Local Joint Biomedical Engineering Research Center on Photodynamic Technologies, College of Chemistry, Fuzhou University, Fuzhou, 350108, China
| | - Cheng-Miao Luo
- National & Local Joint Biomedical Engineering Research Center on Photodynamic Technologies, College of Chemistry, Fuzhou University, Fuzhou, 350108, China
| | - Lin-Feng Wen
- National & Local Joint Biomedical Engineering Research Center on Photodynamic Technologies, College of Chemistry, Fuzhou University, Fuzhou, 350108, China
| | - Jian-Yong Liu
- National & Local Joint Biomedical Engineering Research Center on Photodynamic Technologies, College of Chemistry, Fuzhou University, Fuzhou, 350108, China; Key Laboratory of Molecule Synthesis and Function Discovery, Fujian Province University, College of Chemistry, Fuzhou University, Fuzhou, 350108, China; State Key Laboratory of Photocatalysis on Energy and Environment, College of Chemistry, Fuzhou University, Fuzhou, 350108, China.
| | - Zhonghui Lin
- National & Local Joint Biomedical Engineering Research Center on Photodynamic Technologies, College of Chemistry, Fuzhou University, Fuzhou, 350108, China
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7
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Precise gliomas therapy: Hypoxia-activated prodrugs sensitized by nano-photosensitizers. Biomaterials 2022; 289:121770. [DOI: 10.1016/j.biomaterials.2022.121770] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2022] [Revised: 08/25/2022] [Accepted: 08/28/2022] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
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8
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Designing anticancer combretastatin A-4 analogues with aggregation-induced emission characteristics. Sci China Chem 2022. [DOI: 10.1007/s11426-021-1197-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
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9
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Li H, Kim H, Xu F, Han J, Yao Q, Wang J, Pu K, Peng X, Yoon J. Activity-based NIR fluorescent probes based on the versatile hemicyanine scaffold: design strategy, biomedical applications, and outlook. Chem Soc Rev 2022; 51:1795-1835. [PMID: 35142301 DOI: 10.1039/d1cs00307k] [Citation(s) in RCA: 138] [Impact Index Per Article: 69.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
The discovery of a near-infrared (NIR, 650-900 nm) fluorescent chromophore hemicyanine dye with high structural tailorability is of great significance in the field of detection, bioimaging, and medical therapeutic applications. It exhibits many outstanding advantages including absorption and emission in the NIR region, tunable spectral properties, high photostability as well as a large Stokes shift. These properties are superior to those of conventional fluorogens, such as coumarin, fluorescein, naphthalimides, rhodamine, and cyanine. Researchers have made remarkable progress in developing activity-based multifunctional fluorescent probes based on hemicyanine skeletons for monitoring vital biomolecules in living systems through the output of fluorescence/photoacoustic signals, and integration of diagnosis and treatment of diseases using chemotherapy or photothermal/photodynamic therapy or combination therapy. These achievements prompted researchers to develop more smart fluorescent probes using a hemicyanine fluorogen as a template. In this review, we begin by describing the brief history of the discovery of hemicyanine dyes, synthetic approaches, and design strategies for activity-based functional fluorescent probes. Then, many selected hemicyanine-based probes that can detect ions, small biomolecules, overexpressed enzymes and diagnostic reagents for diseases are systematically highlighted. Finally, potential drawbacks and the outlook for future investigation and clinical medicine transformation of hemicyanine-based activatable functional probes are also discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Haidong Li
- State Key Laboratory of Fine Chemicals, Dalian University of Technology, 2 Linggong Road, Dalian 116024, China. .,School of Bioengineering, Dalian University of Technology, 2 Linggong Road, Dalian 116024, China
| | - Heejeong Kim
- Department of Chemistry and Nano Science, Ewha Womans University, Seoul 03760, Korea.
| | - Feng Xu
- State Key Laboratory of Fine Chemicals, Dalian University of Technology, 2 Linggong Road, Dalian 116024, China. .,The Key Laboratory of Laboratory Medicine, Ministry of Education, School of Laboratory Medicine and Life Science, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou 325035, China
| | - Jingjing Han
- Department of Chemistry and Nano Science, Ewha Womans University, Seoul 03760, Korea.
| | - Qichao Yao
- State Key Laboratory of Fine Chemicals, Dalian University of Technology, 2 Linggong Road, Dalian 116024, China.
| | - Jingyun Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Fine Chemicals, Dalian University of Technology, 2 Linggong Road, Dalian 116024, China. .,School of Bioengineering, Dalian University of Technology, 2 Linggong Road, Dalian 116024, China
| | - Kanyi Pu
- School of Chemical and Biomedical Engineering, Nanyang Technological University, 70 Nanyang Drive, 637457, Singapore. .,Division of Chemistry and Biological Chemistry, School of Physical and Mathematical Sciences, Nanyang Technological University, 21 Nanyang Link, Singapore
| | - Xiaojun Peng
- State Key Laboratory of Fine Chemicals, Dalian University of Technology, 2 Linggong Road, Dalian 116024, China. .,Research Institute of Dalian University of Technology in Shenzhen, Nanshan District, Shenzhen 518057, China
| | - Juyoung Yoon
- Department of Chemistry and Nano Science, Ewha Womans University, Seoul 03760, Korea.
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Guo WY, Li RR, Fu YX, Liu SY, Liu GZ, Yang WC, Yang GF. Pyroglutamate Aminopeptidase I Promotes Hepatocellular Carcinoma via IL-6/STAT3 Activation as Revealed by a Specific Biosensor. Anal Chem 2021; 93:13311-13318. [PMID: 34569224 DOI: 10.1021/acs.analchem.1c03011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/15/2023]
Abstract
As a global health challenge, hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is strongly associated with chronic inflammation. Targeting inflammation, particularly inflammatory factors, is regarded as an important strategy for HCC diagnosis and treatment. Pyroglutamic aminopeptidase I (PGP-I), a common exopeptidase, was recently identified as a novel inflammatory cytokine in cells. However, whether PGP-I is involved in HCC development and can be regarded as a biomarker remains unclear. To address this issue, endogenous PGP-I was imaged in live cells and in vivo, and the related biochemical and pathological processes were analyzed accordingly with a newly developed fluorogenic PGP-I biosensor. Bioimaging with the specific biosensor demonstrated the aberrant expression of PGP-I in HCC cell lines and tumor-bearing nude mice. Moreover, overexpression of PGP-I in HCC cells promoted tumor progression, whereas knockdown of PGP-I significantly suppressed tumor cell growth and migration. The activity of PGP-I was further identified to be highly related to the phosphorylation of STAT3, which could be impeded by the natural product parthenolide. Collectively, these findings suggest that PGP-I, which can promote hepatocellular tumor progression through the classical inflammation-/tumor-related IL-6/STAT3 pathway, may serve as a potential HCC biomarker and therapeutic target.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wu-Yingzheng Guo
- Key Laboratory of Pesticide & Chemical Biology of Ministry of Education, International Joint Research Center for Intelligent Biosensor Technology and Health, College of Chemistry, Central China Normal University, Wuhan 430079, P. R. China
| | - Rong-Rong Li
- Key Laboratory of Pesticide & Chemical Biology of Ministry of Education, International Joint Research Center for Intelligent Biosensor Technology and Health, College of Chemistry, Central China Normal University, Wuhan 430079, P. R. China
| | - Yi-Xuan Fu
- Key Laboratory of Pesticide & Chemical Biology of Ministry of Education, International Joint Research Center for Intelligent Biosensor Technology and Health, College of Chemistry, Central China Normal University, Wuhan 430079, P. R. China
| | - Shi-Yu Liu
- Key Laboratory of Pesticide & Chemical Biology of Ministry of Education, International Joint Research Center for Intelligent Biosensor Technology and Health, College of Chemistry, Central China Normal University, Wuhan 430079, P. R. China
| | - Guo-Zhen Liu
- Key Laboratory of Pesticide & Chemical Biology of Ministry of Education, International Joint Research Center for Intelligent Biosensor Technology and Health, College of Chemistry, Central China Normal University, Wuhan 430079, P. R. China
| | - Wen-Chao Yang
- Key Laboratory of Pesticide & Chemical Biology of Ministry of Education, International Joint Research Center for Intelligent Biosensor Technology and Health, College of Chemistry, Central China Normal University, Wuhan 430079, P. R. China
| | - Guang-Fu Yang
- Key Laboratory of Pesticide & Chemical Biology of Ministry of Education, International Joint Research Center for Intelligent Biosensor Technology and Health, College of Chemistry, Central China Normal University, Wuhan 430079, P. R. China
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11
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Donor strategy for promoting nonradiative decay to achieve an efficient photothermal therapy for treating cancer. Sci China Chem 2021. [DOI: 10.1007/s11426-021-1055-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
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12
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Li H, Lu Y, Chung J, Han J, Kim H, Yao Q, Kim G, Wu X, Long S, Peng X, Yoon J. Activation of apoptosis by rationally constructing NIR amphiphilic AIEgens: surmounting the shackle of mitochondrial membrane potential for amplified tumor ablation. Chem Sci 2021; 12:10522-10531. [PMID: 34447545 PMCID: PMC8356816 DOI: 10.1039/d1sc02227j] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/22/2021] [Accepted: 06/25/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
In recent years, the use of aggregation-induced emission luminogens (AIEgens) for biological imaging and phototherapy has become an area of intense research. However, most traditional AIEgens suffer from undesired aggregation in aqueous media with "always on" fluorescence, or their targeting effects cannot be maintained accurately in live cells with the microenvironment changes. These drawbacks seriously impede their application in the fields of bio-imaging and antitumor therapy, which require a high signal-to-noise ratio. Herein, we propose a molecular design strategy to tune the dispersity of AIEgens in both lipophilic and hydrophilic systems to obtain the novel near-infrared (NIR, ∼737 nm) amphiphilic AIE photosensitizer (named TPA-S-TPP) with two positive charges as well as a triplet lifetime of 11.43 μs. The synergistic effects of lipophilicity, electrostatic interaction, and structure-anchoring enable the wider dynamic range of AIEgen TPA-S-TPP for mitochondrial targeting with tolerance to the changes of mitochondrial membrane potential (ΔΨ m). Intriguingly, TPA-S-TPP was difficult for normal cells to be taken up, indicative of low inherent toxicity for normal cells and tissues. Deeper insight into the changes of mitochondrial membrane potential and cleaved caspase 3 levels further revealed the mechanism of tumor cell apoptosis activated by AIEgen TPA-S-TPP under light irradiation. With its advantages of low dark toxicity and good biocompatibility, acting as an efficient theranostic agent, TPA-S-TPP was successfully applied to kill cancer cells and to efficiently inhibit tumor growth in mice. This study will provide a new avenue for researchers to design more ideal amphiphilic AIE photosensitizers with NIR fluorescence.
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Affiliation(s)
- Haidong Li
- Department of Chemistry and Nanoscience, Ewha Womans University Seoul 03760 Korea
| | - Yang Lu
- State Key Laboratory of Fine Chemicals, Dalian University of Technology 2 Linggong Road Dalian 116024 P. R. China
| | - Jeewon Chung
- Department of Chemistry and Nanoscience, Ewha Womans University Seoul 03760 Korea
| | - Jingjing Han
- Department of Chemistry and Nanoscience, Ewha Womans University Seoul 03760 Korea
| | - Heejeong Kim
- Department of Chemistry and Nanoscience, Ewha Womans University Seoul 03760 Korea
| | - Qichao Yao
- State Key Laboratory of Fine Chemicals, Dalian University of Technology 2 Linggong Road Dalian 116024 P. R. China
- Ningbo Institute of Dalian University of Technology 26 Yucai Road, Jiangbei District Ningbo 315016 P. R. China
| | - Gyoungmi Kim
- Department of Chemistry and Nanoscience, Ewha Womans University Seoul 03760 Korea
| | - Xiaofeng Wu
- Department of Chemistry and Nanoscience, Ewha Womans University Seoul 03760 Korea
| | - Saran Long
- State Key Laboratory of Fine Chemicals, Dalian University of Technology 2 Linggong Road Dalian 116024 P. R. China
| | - Xiaojun Peng
- State Key Laboratory of Fine Chemicals, Dalian University of Technology 2 Linggong Road Dalian 116024 P. R. China
| | - Juyoung Yoon
- Department of Chemistry and Nanoscience, Ewha Womans University Seoul 03760 Korea
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