Near‐Infrared Chemiluminescence Imaging of Chemotherapy‐Induced Peripheral Neuropathy

Abstract

Chemotherapy‐induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN) has a high prevalence but is poorly managed for cancer patients due to the lack of reliable and sensitive diagnostic techniques. Molecular optical imaging can provide a noninvasive way for real‐time monitoring of CIPN; However, this is not reported, likely due to the absence of optical probes capable of imaging deep into the spinal canal and possessing sufficient sensitivity for minimal dosage through local injection into the dorsal root ganglia. Herein, a near‐infrared (NIR) chemiluminophore (MPBD) with a chemiluminescence quantum yield higher than other reported probes is synthesized and a NIR activatable chemiluminescent probe (CalCL) is developed for in vivo imaging of CIPN. CalCL is constructed by caging MPBD with calpain‐cleavable peptide moiety while conjugating polyethylene glycol chain to endow water solubility. Due to the deep‐tissue penetration of chemiluminescence and specific turn‐on response of CalCL toward calpain (a hallmark of CIPN), it allows for sensitive detection of paclitaxel‐mediated CIPN in living mice, which is unattainable by fluorescence imaging. This study thus not only develops a highly efficient chemiluminescent probe, but also presents the first optical imaging approach toward high‐throughput screening of neurotoxic drugs.

Cyclodextrin as a water-soluble host of azobenzene-based pH probe enables long-term monitoring

“…The probes would gradually aggregate and precipitate with time, resulting in inaccurate measurements, especially for the processes that go through a long term. Modification of the molecular structures with hydrophilic groups such as hydroxyl, 6–9 sulfonic acid 10–12 and polyethylene glycol 13–15 could improve water solubility but also increase time and labor costs for synthesis. Therefore, a simple and convenient universal approach to improve the water solubility of azobenzene-based probes is of great significance.…”

Hyper-Responsive Chemiluminescent Probe Reveals Distinct PYRase Activity in Pseudomonas aeruginosa

“…The incorporation of an acrylate substituent at the ortho position of a phenoxy-adamantyl-1,2-dioxetane, prevents water-mediated quenching of the excited intermediate, enabling up to 3000-fold enhancement of light-emission intensity. These probes found widespread applications in bioimaging, immunoassays, and real-time monitoring of cellular events both in vitro and in vivo . − Here, we report a highly sensitive chemiluminescent probe for the detection of PYRase and its use for the rapid screening of its activity across numerous Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacterial strains.…”