Issue 20, 2019

An AIE-based self-assembled fluorescent probe for COX-2 imaging

Abstract

Cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), an isozyme of the cyclooxygenase enzyme family, is not only highly expressed in various types of tumors, but also over-expressed in all stages of cancer. Herein, we report the design and preparation of an aggregation-induced emission (AIE) based fluorescent probe TPI-IMC for the imaging of COX-2 by the conjugation of 4-(1,4,5-triphenyl-1H-imidazol-2-yl)pyridine (TPI) and COX-2 inhibitor indomethacin (IMC). The probe was applied for the detection and imaging of COX-2, and a linear range from 0 to 0.4 μg mL−1 and a detection limit of 0.08 μg mL−1in vitro were achieved. TPI-IMC exhibits weak fluorescence in normal cells (LO2 cells and RAW264.7 cells), while it exhibits stronger fluorescence in the cells over-expressing COX-2 such as cancer cells (HeLa cells) and inflammatory cells (LPS induced RAW264.7 cells). It is also found that significantly reduced fluorescence intensity is observed and detected in HeLa cells co-treated with the COX-2 inhibitor celecoxib. Therefore, TPI-IMC has the potential to be used as a guiding-agent in surgery for tumours and inflammation.

Graphical abstract: An AIE-based self-assembled fluorescent probe for COX-2 imaging

Supplementary files

Article information

Article type
Paper
Submitted
20 Marts 2019
Accepted
17 Apr. 2019
First published
18 Apr. 2019

New J. Chem., 2019,43, 7874-7880

An AIE-based self-assembled fluorescent probe for COX-2 imaging

X. Cao, T. Gao, J. Dong, X. Jiang, H. Zou, T. Liu, K. Yu and W. Zeng, New J. Chem., 2019, 43, 7874 DOI: 10.1039/C9NJ01473J

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