Near-infrared chemiluminescent probe for real-time monitoring of nitroreductase in tumors.

ABSTRACT: Nitroreductase (NTRase) is a hypoxia-associated enzyme that is commonly found in conditions such as inflammatory disorders, myocardial ischemia, and most solid tumors. Therefore, the real-time monitoring of its activity is important for the clinical diagnosis of these conditions. Compared with fluorescence imaging, chemiluminescence (CL) imaging does not require external excitation light, thus exhibiting lower autofluorescence and photobleaching and a higher signal-to-noise ratio (SNR). Herein, we report a near-infrared (NIR) CL probe, namely NTR-TCN-CL, for selective and sensitive detection of NTRase. The probe contains a p-nitrobenzyl trigger that can be enzymatically reduced by NTRase. The reduction subsequently uncages the CL scaffold, leading to the initiation of chemiexcitatio

SUBMITTER: Zhu P 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12813858 | biostudies-literature | 2026 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature