A tumor-targeting and polarity-specific near-infrared fluorescent probe for accurate cancer diagnosis in vivo

• Published in: Dyes and pigments 2022-10, Vol.206, p.110612, Article 110612
• Main Authors: Wang, Wen-Xin, Wang, Zhi-Qing, Tan, Zhi-Ke, Guo, Ke-Yue, Mao, Guo-Jiang, Li, Yongfei, Li, Chun-Yan
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Accurate cancer diagnosis; Fluorescent probe; Near-infrared; Polarity-specific; Tumor-targeting
• ISSN: 0143-7208; 1873-3743
• DOI: 10.1016/j.dyepig.2022.110612

Although the cure rate of cancer is very low, the survival rate of patients can be improved if it is diagnosed early and treated in time. Polarity, as a significant parameter of tumor microenvironment, is bound up with the development of cancer. Unfortunately, there is currently no report about tumor-targeted and polarity-specific NIR fluorescent probe for accurate cancer diagnosis. Here, a polarity-specific near-infrared (NIR) fluorescent probe named CX-P based on coumarin-xanthene dye is reported. The probe has the advantages of long emission wavelength (>650 nm) and outstanding tumor targeting ability. CX-P is highly sensitive to polarity, and has a linear range from Δƒ = 0.284 (30% water) to Δƒ = 0.321 (100% water). Moreover, the probe can actively target cancer cells and display strong red fluorescence, while the fluorescence in normal cells is negligible. CX-P is also used to real-time monitor the polarity changes after the treatment of cancer cells with LPS, sucrose and taxol. Based on its NIR characteristics, CX-P is applied to real-time imaging of tumor-bearing mice and the significant tumor targeting ability is further confirmed. As far as we know, this is the first tumor-targeting and polarity-specific NIR fluorescent probe, which will offer a powerful means for accurate cancer diagnosis in the future. [Display omitted] •A novel polarity-specific fluorescent probe (CX-P) is successfully synthesized.•CX-P shows NIR emission wavelength and outstanding tumor targeting ability.•CX-P can monitor the cells polarity changes after treated with LPS, sucrose, taxol. .► CX-P is successfully applied to fluorescence imaging of tumor-bearing mice.•This is the first tumor-targeting and polarity-specific NIR fluorescent probe.