Celecoxib Conjugated Fluorescent Probe for Identification and Discrimination of Cyclooxygenase-2 Enzyme in Cancer Cells

Anal Chem. 2018 Apr 17;90(8):5187-5193. doi: 10.1021/acs.analchem.7b05337. Epub 2018 Apr 3.

Abstract

Cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) is an enzyme overexpressed in most types of cancers and has been used for an excellent targetable biomarker. Celecoxib is an effective inhibitor of COX-2, used in anti-inflammation. Herein we report a one and two-photon fluorescence probe (NP-C6-CXB) for COX-2, based on the conjugation of naphthalamide with Celecoxib, by using flexible hexylene linker. NP-C6-CXB is nonfluorescent in buffer solution and normal cells, while it shows bright fluorescence in solutions and cancer cells in the presence of COX-2 with an excellent selectivity. Interestingly, NP-C6-CXB can discriminate cancer cells (MCF-7) from normal cells (COS-7) in the single culture medium under confocal microscopy. Due to the selective binding affinity of NP-C6-CXB with a COX-2 enzyme, the intensity is proportional to the level of COX-2 enzyme in cancer cells. In vivo and in vitro experiments proved that NP-C6-CXB is a potential tool for identification of tumor and might be used in surgical resection of COX-2 expressed tumors.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Celecoxib / chemistry*
  • Cell Survival
  • Cells, Cultured
  • Chlorocebus aethiops
  • Cyclooxygenase 2 / analysis*
  • Cyclooxygenase 2 / metabolism
  • Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
  • Flow Cytometry
  • Fluorescent Dyes / chemical synthesis
  • Fluorescent Dyes / chemistry*
  • Fluorescent Dyes / pharmacology
  • Humans
  • Mice, Inbred BALB C
  • Mice, Nude
  • Neoplasms, Experimental / diagnostic imaging
  • Optical Imaging
  • Photons
  • Structure-Activity Relationship

Substances

  • Fluorescent Dyes
  • Cyclooxygenase 2
  • Celecoxib