<i>In vivo</i> imaging of β-galactosidase stimulated activity in hepatocellular carcinoma using ligand-targeted fluorescent probe

다국어 초록 (Multilingual Abstract)

<P><B>Abstract</B></P> <P>Development of targeted, selective, and noninvasive fluorescent probes for <I>in vivo</I> visualization of tumor-associated overexpressed enzymes are highly anticipated for cancer diagnosis and therapy. Herein, we developed a noninvasive fluorescent probe (<B>DCDHF-<I>β</I>gal</B>) for the sensitive detection, and <I>in vivo</I> visualization of β-galactosidase in hepatocyte HepG2 cells and its xenograft model. As a model system for <I>in vivo</I> targeted imaging, <B>DCDHF-<I>β</I>gal</B> possessing galactose unit selectively target hepatocyte and monitor the β-galactosidase activity with deep tissue penetration, and low background interference. <B>DCDHF-<I>β</I>gal</B> was activated by intracellular β-galactosidases as the driving force for the release of NIR fluorophore, thereby exhibiting ratiometric optical response. Initial fluorescence emission measured at 615 nm was changed to fluorescence at 665 nm upon activation of <B>DCDHF-<I>β</I>gal</B> with β-galactosidase. Ratiometric fluorescence detection of β-galactosidase was also observed in hepatocellular carcinoma cells and tumor xenograft. The noninvasive <I>in vivo</I> optical imaging facilitated by targeted and enzyme-activated imaging agent would be useful in various biomedical and diagnostic applications.</P>