Near-Infrared Fluorescent Probe for Simultaneously Imaging Ferrous Ions and Viscosity in a Mouse Model of Hepatocellular Carcinoma.

Abstract

Abnormal ferrous ion (Fe) levels lead to an increase in reactive oxygen species (ROS) in cells, disrupting intracellular viscosity and the occurrence of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Simultaneously visualizing Feand intracellular viscosity is essential for understanding the detailed pathophysiological processes of HCC. Herein, we report the first dual-responsive probe,, capable of simultaneously monitoring Feand viscosity.shows highly selective turn-on near-infrared fluorescence (∼30-fold enhancement at 740 nm) for Fewith high sensitivity (LOD = 25 nM) and a significant Stokes shift (290 nm). Moreover,shows a distinct orange-red fluorescence enhancement at 587 nm as the viscosity increases. Due to its lower cytotoxicity and high sensitivity,can distinguish cancer cells from normal cells by detecting Feand viscosity in dual channels. More importantly, using, we found that the levels of Feand viscosity elevated in the precancerous stage of HCC and gradually increased as the disease progressed. Overall, this work provides a new potential tool for investigating viscosity and Fe-related pathological processes underlying HCC.