An ER-targeted, Viscosity-sensitive Hemicyanine Dye for the Diagnosis of Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver and Photodynamic Cancer Therapy by Activating Pyroptosis Pathway.

The concept of molecular design, integrating diagnostic and therapeutic functions, aligns with the general trend of modern medical advancement. Herein, we rationally designed the smart molecule ER-ZS for endoplasmic reticulum (ER)-targeted diagnosis and treatment in cell and animal models by combining hemicyanine dyes with ER-targeted functional groups (p-toluenesulfonamide). Owing to its ability to target the ER with a highly specific response to viscosity, ER-ZS demonstrated substantial fluorescence turn-on only after binding to the ER, independent of other physiological environments.

Simultaneous detection of SO and viscosity in drug-induced inflammation in live cells and zebrafish.

The viscosity within cells is a crucial microenvironmental factor, and sulfur dioxide (SO ) has essential functions in regulating cellular apoptosis and inflammation. Some evidence has been confirmed that changes in viscosity and overexposure of SO within the cell may cause detrimental effects including, but not limited to, respiratory and cardiovascular illnesses, inflammation, fatty liver, and various types of cancer. Therefore, precise monitoring of SO and viscosity in biological entities holds immense practical importance.

Fluorescent dyes based on rhodamine derivatives for bioimaging and therapeutics: recent progress, challenges, and prospects.

Since their inception, rhodamine dyes have been extensively applied in biotechnology as fluorescent markers or for the detection of biomolecules owing to their good optical physical properties. Accordingly, they have emerged as a powerful tool for the visualization of living systems. In addition to fluorescence bioimaging, the molecular design of rhodamine derivatives with disease therapeutic functions (, cancer and bacterial infection) has recently attracted increased research attention, which is significantly important for the construction of molecular libraries for diagnostic and therapeutic integration.

Observing hydrogen sulfide in the endoplasmic reticulum of cancer cells and zebrafish by using an activity-based fluorescent probe.

A crucial endogenous signaling chemical, hydrogen sulfide, is involved in many physiological actions. In this work, we created the fluorescent probe ER-Nap-NBD using a naphthalimide fluorophore as the signal reporter, a 7-nitro-1,2,3-benzoxadiazole amine as the responsive moiety, and a sulfonamide part for endoplasmic reticulum targeting. ER-Nap-NBD could be detected the HS levels in solution and in living systems (cells and zebrafish).

Monitoring mitochondrial nitroreductase activity in tumors and a hind-limb model of ischemia in mice using a novel activatable NIR fluorescent probe.

We report a mitochondria-targeted nitroreductase (NTR)-activated near-infrared fluorescent probe: CS-NO2. Overexpressed NTR in mitochondria was measured with high sensitivity. More importantly, the probe CS-NO2 successfully monitored NTR activity in solid tumors and a hind-limb model of ischemia in mice.