Aptamer-Gadolinium Conjugates for Targeted Magnetic Resonance Imaging of Early-Stage Bladder Cancer.

Bladder cancer (BCa) poses a significant threat to human health, with early-stage diagnosis being particularly valuable yet challenging due to the limited availability of highly efficient targeted contrast agents. In this study, we have developed a novel aptamer-gadolinium conjugate (Apt-Gd) designed as a targeted contrast agent for the magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of early-stage BCa. The synthesis of Apt-Gd involved the direct conjugation of aptamers with chelating agents through a bioorthogonal reaction, followed by gadolinium chelation.

Visualization of Protein-Specific Glycation in Living Cells via Bioorthogonal Chemical Reporter.

Due to the lack of suitable chemical tools, probing the protein-specific glycation is highly challenging. Herein, we present a strategy based on glycation chemical reporter and proximity-induced FRET signal readout for visualizing protein-specific glycation in living cells. We first developed a bioorthogonal glucose analogue, 6-azido-6-deoxy-D-glucose (6AzGlc), as a novel glycation chemical reporter.

Singlet Oxygen Generation in Dark-Hypoxia by Catalytic Microenvironment-Tailored Nanoreactors for NIR-II Fluorescence-Monitored Chemodynamic Therapy.

Singlet oxygen ( O ) has a potent anticancer effect, but photosensitized generation of O is inhibited by tumor hypoxia and limited light penetration depth. Despite the potential of chemodynamic therapy (CDT) to circumvent these issues by exploration of O -producing catalysts, engineering efficient CDT agents is still a formidable challenge since most catalysts require specific pH to function and become inactivated upon chelation by glutathione (GSH). Herein, we present a catalytic microenvironment-tailored nanoreactor (CMTN), constructed by encapsulating MoO catalyst and alkaline sodium carbonate within liposomes, which offers a favorable pH condition for MoO -catalyzed generation of O from H O and protects MoO from GSH chelation owing to the impermeability of liposomal lipid membrane to ions and GSH.