An ROS/viscosity dual-activated nanoprobe with CD44-targeting ability for NIR-II imaging of early atherosclerotic plaques

Abstract

We developed a NIR-II fluorescent nanoprobe, DCy-BOH@BSA-HA, for targeted identification of atherosclerotic (AS) plaques. The probe remains quiescent initially but is dually activated by the plaque microenvironment—specifically elevated ROS and viscosity—while (hyaluronic acid) HA mediates CD44 targeting. This strategy enabled precise NIR-II fluorescence imaging of aortic plaques in a murine AS model.