Near‐Infrared Biosensing of Drug‐Induced Cell‐Heterogeneous Injuries with an Ultrahigh Turn‐On Ratio

X Xinru Hu (State Key Laboratory of Bioreactor Engineering Shanghai Key Laboratory of Chemical Biology School of Pharmacy East China University of Science and Technology 130 Meilong Road Shanghai 200237 China) C Cheng Yao (State Key Laboratory of Bioreactor Engineering, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Chemical Biology, School of Pharmacy, East China University of Science and Technology, Meilong Road 130, Shanghai 200237, China) B Baosheng Wang (CAS Key Laboratory of Nutrition, Metabolism and Food Safety Shanghai Institute of Nutrition and Health University of Chinese Academy of Sciences Chinese Academy of Sciences Shanghai 200031 China) Y Yuyang Zhang (School of Materials Science and Engineering) J Jinwen Yang Y Yan Dong Y Yi Li D Danyang Wang (Lab of Molecular Imaging and Translational Medicine (MITM), Engineering Research Center of Molecular and Neuro Imaging, Ministry of Education, School of Life Science and Technology, Xidian University & International Joint Research Center for Advanced Medical Imaging and Intelligent Diagnosis and Treatment, 266 Xinglong Section of Xifeng Road, Xi’an, Shaanxi 710126, P. R. China) X Xiaohua Chen (Chongqing Key Laboratory of Theoretical and Computational Chemistry, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Chongqing University) Y Yanyan Deng (Shanghai Frontiers Science Center of TCM Chemical Biology, Institute of Interdisciplinary Integrative Medicine Research) G Guangbo Ge (Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine , , ,) B Ben Zhou (CAS Key Laboratory of Nutrition, Metabolism and Food Safety Shanghai Institute of Nutrition and Health University of Chinese Academy of Sciences Chinese Academy of Sciences Shanghai 200031 China) X Xiao Luo X Xuhong Qian (State Key Laboratory of Bioreactor Engineering, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Chemical Biology, School of Pharmacy, East China University of Science and Technology, Meilong Road 130, Shanghai 200237, China) Y Youjun Yang (State Key Laboratory of Bioreactor Engineering, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Chemical Biology, School of Pharmacy, East China University of Science and Technology, Meilong Road 130, Shanghai 200237, China)

Abstract

Abstract Fluorescence probes of reactive oxygen species in the near‐infrared (NIR) spectral region, i.e., 800 nm and beyond, are desired for in vivo biosensing, diagnosis, and pharmacology. However, the NIR dyes are typically prone to oxidative destruction, and the probes based on these dyes exhibit a poor fluorescence turn‐on ratio and a low detection sensitivity. EC5 is a bright and stable NIR fluorochromic scaffold and yet has not been exploited for probe design. Despite the structural analogy of EC5 to xanthene dyes, the classic spiro‐cyclization at the central methine carbon was surprisingly not applicable to EC5 . Here, we report the rational development of a novel probe design strategy for EC5 dye, i.e., asymmetric conjugative addition at the quinone‐methide carbon. EC5 ‐ H3 via this approach is a robust probe for highly oxidative species. Its merits include an ultrahigh turn‐on ratio of ca. 200‐fold and high resistance of the detection product toward ONOO − ‐mediated destruction. The feasibility of EC5 ‐ H3 for practical applications was showcased by in vivo biosensing of drug‐induced oxidative injuries to the liver. The high turn‐on ratio and high brightness of the probe allow tissue injuries to be imaged with confocal microscopy to reveal the heterogeneity in oxidative injuries to different liver cells.

Article Details

Volume / Issue Vol. 64, Issue 33
Published August 11, 2025
ISSN 1433-7851
Publisher Wiley

Journal Info

Angewandte Chemie International Edition

Wiley

ISSN: 1433-7851 Physical Sciences

Authors (15)

X

Xinru Hu

State Key Laboratory of Bioreactor Engineering Shanghai Key Laboratory of Chemical Biology School of Pharmacy East China University of Science and Technology 130 Meilong Road Shanghai 200237 China

C

Cheng Yao

State Key Laboratory of Bioreactor Engineering, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Chemical Biology, School of Pharmacy, East China University of Science and Technology, Meilong Road 130, Shanghai 200237, China

B

Baosheng Wang

CAS Key Laboratory of Nutrition, Metabolism and Food Safety Shanghai Institute of Nutrition and Health University of Chinese Academy of Sciences Chinese Academy of Sciences Shanghai 200031 China

Y

Yuyang Zhang

School of Materials Science and Engineering

J

Jinwen Yang

Y

Yan Dong

Y

Yi Li

D

Danyang Wang

Lab of Molecular Imaging and Translational Medicine (MITM), Engineering Research Center of Molecular and Neuro Imaging, Ministry of Education, School of Life Science and Technology, Xidian University & International Joint Research Center for Advanced Medical Imaging and Intelligent Diagnosis and Treatment, 266 Xinglong Section of Xifeng Road, Xi’an, Shaanxi 710126, P. R. China

X

Xiaohua Chen

Chongqing Key Laboratory of Theoretical and Computational Chemistry, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Chongqing University

Y

Yanyan Deng

Shanghai Frontiers Science Center of TCM Chemical Biology, Institute of Interdisciplinary Integrative Medicine Research

G

Guangbo Ge

Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine , , ,

B

Ben Zhou

CAS Key Laboratory of Nutrition, Metabolism and Food Safety Shanghai Institute of Nutrition and Health University of Chinese Academy of Sciences Chinese Academy of Sciences Shanghai 200031 China

X

Xiao Luo

X

Xuhong Qian

State Key Laboratory of Bioreactor Engineering, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Chemical Biology, School of Pharmacy, East China University of Science and Technology, Meilong Road 130, Shanghai 200237, China

Y

Youjun Yang

State Key Laboratory of Bioreactor Engineering, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Chemical Biology, School of Pharmacy, East China University of Science and Technology, Meilong Road 130, Shanghai 200237, China