journal article·2025-01Open access

Tumor Site‐Specific In Vivo Theranostics Enabled by Microenvironment‐Dependent Chemical Transformation and Self‐Amplifying Effect

Yunfei Zuo, Pei Li, Wen‐Jin Wang, Changhuo Xu, Shuting Xu, Herman H. Y. Sung, Jianwei Sun, Guorui Jin, Weiping Wang, Ryan T. K. Kwok, Jacky W. Y. Lam, Ben Zhong Tang

Advanced Science· Volume 12· Issue 4

Abstract

Abstract Precise tumor diagnosis and treatment remain complex challenges. While numerous fluorescent probes have been developed for tumor‐specific imaging and therapy, few exhibit effective function in vivo. Herein, a probe called TQ‐H2 is designed that can realize robust theranostic effects both in vitro and in vivo. In vitro, TQ‐H2 specifically targets the lysosome and reacts with hydroxyl radical (·OH) to generate TQ‐HA, which lights up the cells. TQ‐HA generates reactive oxygen species (ROS) under light irradiation, enabling the simultaneous induction and monitoring of apoptosis and ferroptosis in tumor cells. Remarkably, TQ‐HA also acts as a self‐amplifier, autocatalytically activating TQ‐H2 by generating ·OH under light exposure. This self‐amplification aligns with the tumor microenvironment, where TQ‐H2 undergoes chemical transformation, distinguishing tumors from healthy tissue via near‐infrared (NIR) fluorescence imaging. Furthermore, ROS generated by TQ‐HA effectively kills tumor cells and inhibits tumor growth without harming normal cells. This study offers a promising strategy for targeted tumor theranostics using self‐amplifying microenvironment‐responsive fluorescent probes.
Source: crossref · Quality: baseline

Research context

OpenAlex topics: Nanoplatforms for cancer theranostics · Luminescence and Fluorescent Materials · Molecular Sensors and Ion Detection

SciVX discovery tags are terminology-based. OpenAlex topics are source-provided classifications.

Affiliations

Department of Chemistry Hong Kong Branch of Chinese National Engineering Research Center for Tissue Restoration and Reconstruction Division of Life Science State Key Laboratory of Molecular Neuroscience and Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering The Hong Kong University of Science & Technology Clear Water Bay Kowloon Hong Kong 999077 P. R. China

National Clinical Research Center for Infectious Diseases Shenzhen Third People's Hospital Southern University of Science and Technology Shenzhen Guangdong 518112 China

China Clinical Translational Research Center of Aggregation‐Induced Emission The Second Affiliated Hospital School of Medicine School of Science and Engineering Shenzhen Institute of Aggregate Science and Technology The Chinese University of Hong Kong Shenzhen (CUHK‐Shenzhen) Guangdong 518172 China

MOE Frontiers Science Center for Precision Oncology Faculty of Health Sciences University of Macau Macao 999078 China

Department of Pharmacology and Pharmacy Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine The University of Hong Kong Hong Kong 999077 China

The Key Laboratory of Biomedical Information Engineering of Ministry of Education School of Life Science and Technology Xi'an Jiaotong University Xi'an 710049 China

Funding

Innovation and Technology Commission

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