Multifunctional Probes with High Utilization Rates: Self-Assembled Merocyanine Nanoparticles in Water as Acid-Base Indicators and Mitochondrion-Targeting Chemotherapeutic Agents

J Phys Chem Lett. 2022 Feb 3;13(4):1090-1098. doi: 10.1021/acs.jpclett.1c04092. Epub 2022 Jan 26.

Abstract

Multifunctional probes with high utilization rates have great value in practical applications in various fields such as cancer diagnosis and therapy. Here we have synthesized two organic molecules based on merocyanine. They can self-assemble in water to form ∼1.5 nm nanoparticles. Both of them have good application potential in fluorescent anticounterfeit printing ink and pH detection. More importantly, they have excellent mitochondrial targeting ability, intracellular red light and near-infrared dual-channel imaging ability, strong antiphotobleaching ability, and in vivo and in vitro near-infrared imaging capabilities, showing superior chemotherapy capabilities and biocompatibility in the 4T1 tumor-bearing mouse model.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antineoplastic Agents / chemistry
  • Antineoplastic Agents / therapeutic use*
  • Apoptosis / drug effects
  • Benzopyrans / chemistry
  • Benzopyrans / therapeutic use*
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Fraud / prevention & control
  • Humans
  • Hydrogen-Ion Concentration
  • Indicators and Reagents / chemistry
  • Indicators and Reagents / therapeutic use*
  • Indoles / chemistry
  • Indoles / therapeutic use*
  • Ink
  • Membrane Potential, Mitochondrial / drug effects
  • Mice
  • Mitochondria / drug effects
  • Nanoparticles / chemistry
  • Nanoparticles / therapeutic use*
  • Neoplasms / drug therapy*
  • Neoplasms / metabolism
  • Reactive Oxygen Species / metabolism

Substances

  • Antineoplastic Agents
  • Benzopyrans
  • Indicators and Reagents
  • Indoles
  • Reactive Oxygen Species
  • merocyanine