Background Ex vivo and in vivo detection and imaging of adenosine triphosphate (ATP) is critically important for the diagnosis and treatment of diseases, which still remains challenges up to present. Results We herein demonstrate that ATP could be fluorescently detected and imaged ex vivo and in vivo. In particular, we fabricate a kind of fluorescent ATP probes, which are made of titanium carbide (TC) nanosheets modified with the ROX-tagged ATP-aptamer (TC/Apt). In the constructed TC/Apt, TC shows superior quenching efficiency against ROX (e.g., ~ 97%). While in the presence of ATP, ROX-tagged aptamer is released from TC surface, leading to the recovery of fluorescence of ROX under the 545-nm excitation. Consequently, a wide dynamic range from 1 μM to 1.5 mM ATP and a high sensitivity with a limit of detection (LOD) down to 0.2 μM ATP can be readily achieved by the prepared TC/Apt. We further demonstrate that the as-prepared TC/Apt probe is feasible for accurate discrimination of ATP in different samples including living cells, body fluids (e.g., mouse serum, mouse urine and human serum) and mouse tumor models. Conclusions Fluorescence detection and imaging of ATP could be readily achieved in living cells, body fluids (e.g., urine and serum), as well as mouse tumor model through a new kind of fluorescent ATP nanoprobes, offering new powerful tools for the treatment of diseases related to abnormal fluctuation of ATP concentration.

BackgroundEx vivo and in vivo detection and imaging of adenosine triphosphate (ATP) is critically important for the diagnosis and treatment of diseases, which still remains challenges up to present.ResultsWe herein demonstrate that ATP could be fluorescently detected and imaged ex vivo and in vivo. In particular, we fabricate a kind of fluorescent ATP probes, which are made of titanium carbide (TC) nanosheets modified with the ROX-tagged ATP-aptamer (TC/Apt). In the constructed TC/Apt, TC shows superior quenching efficiency against ROX (e.g., ~97%). While in the presence of ATP, ROX-tagged aptamer is released from TC surface, leading to the recovery of fluorescence of ROX under the 545-nm excitation. Consequently, a wide dynamic range from 1 μM to 1.5 mM ATP and a high sensitivity with a limit of detection (LOD) down to 0.2 μM ATP can be readily achieved by the prepared TC/Apt. We further demonstrate that the as-prepared TC/Apt probe is feasible for accurate discrimination of ATP in different samples including living cells, body fluids (e.g., mouse serum, rat urine, and human serum) and mouse tumor models.ConclusionsFluorescence detection and imaging of ATP could be readily achieved in living cells, body fluids (e.g., mouse serum, rat urine, and human serum), as well as mouse tumor model through a new kind of fluorescent ATP nanoprobes, offering new powerful tools for the treatment of diseases related to abnormal fluctuation of ATP concentration.

ObjectiveThis study aimed to assess the diagnostic value of labial salivary gland changes in female patients with Sjögren's syndrome (SS) having different European League Against Rheumatism (EULAR) Sjögren's syndrome disease activity index (ESSDAI) and serological markers using conventional ultrasound and shear wave elastography (SWE). Methods A total of 82 female inpatients diagnosed with SS were retrospectively examined at the First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University from July 2020 to December 2021. The patients were divided into two groups based on the ESSDAI score: remission group (ESSDAI <5) and active group (ESSDAI ≥5). The prognosis of patients was assessed using serological markers. The ultrasound examination of bilateral labial glands was performed in all patients to analyze the quantity and area of the largest single labial gland per unit detection range (Smax). The SWE of labial glands was performed in different groups. ResultsThe Smax and quantity of labial glands on both sides were correlated with patient age in 82 female patients with SS. Emin, Emean and Emax of remission group based on ESSDAI were significant lower than active group (p<0.001), and the areas under the receiver operating characteristic(ROC) curve for these three in diagnosing were 0.720, 0.728 and 0.734, respectively. The differences in Emean, Emin and Emax values of labial gland between the two groups of immunoglobulin G (IgG) <16g/L and IgG ≥16g/L were statistically significant differences (p<0.05), and the area under the ROC curve(AUC) for the three values were 0.825, 0.830, and 0.815, respectively. There were statistically significant differences (p < 0.05) in Emin, Emean, and Emax of labial glands between the hypocomplementemic and non-hypocomplementemic groups, and the AUC for the three values were 0.840, 0.843, and 0.819, respectively. Conclusion Conventional ultrasound and SWE of the labial gland can reflect the disease activity and prognosis of patients with SS, andmore conveniently assess the progression in the patients and provide imaging evidence.