细胞内活性小分子近红外荧光成像探针

近年来,随着生命科学的不断发展,人们对细胞内活性小分子在病理、生理等方面的功能研究越来越深入。荧光成像作为一种直观、原位的可视化观测技术在小分子检测方面得到了广泛应用,其中基于近红外分子与纳米探针的荧光成像技术因具有背景干扰低、对细胞损伤小、样品穿透性强、检测灵敏度高等优点,显示了较好的应用前景。本文评述了近年来近红外荧光探针用于细胞内活性小分子成像检测的应用及进展,主要讨论该类方法在活性氧物质、金属离子、H+、阴离子及巯基化合物的分析应用,并对该方法的应用前景进行了展望。     

小分子荧光探针在蛋白质标记与成像分析中的应用

小分子荧光探针由于其体积小、合成简单等特点在蛋白质成像技术中扮演着越来越重要的角色。此领域的研究融合了生物化学、有机合成、分析化学等相关学科,是当今化学发展的一个重要方向,有着广阔的前景。目前,能够专一性地与目标蛋白质(POI)结合的小分子探针较少,设计和合成方法的缺乏已经成为制约该领域进一步发展的瓶颈。本文概括地介绍了近年来出现的一些小分子荧光探针,关注它们在活体标记中的应用。     

近红外荧光探针检测金属离子、小分子和生物大分子

荧光探针技术是近年来发展迅速的一种荧光分析方法,具有灵敏度高、选择性好、操作简便和响应迅速等特点,受到环境及生命科学领域的青睐。随着荧光探针技术的发展,近红外一区荧光探针由于具有发射波长长(600~900 nm)、对细胞损伤小、组织穿透性强和自发荧光背景低等优点,被广泛应用于细胞、组织等复杂生物体系中生物分子的检测、示踪及成像。本文评述了近年来(2016~2020年)近红外荧光探针对金属离子(Hg²⁺、Cu²⁺、Zn²⁺、Al³⁺、Fe³⁺)、生物小分子(Cys、N₂H₄、H₂S、H₂O₂)与生物大分子(亮氨酸氨基肽酶、β-半乳糖苷酶)等重要生物分子的检测及成像的研究进展,讨论了该类探针在细胞及活体的分析应用,并对近红外荧光探针的前景进行了展望。     

有机双光子线粒体内活性小分子荧光探针研究进展

线粒体在细胞的能量代谢中发挥着关键作用,其内部环境的微小变化会影响细胞的正常生命活动。同时线粒体内许多活性小分子在细胞的许多生理过程中也起着关键作用。因此,可视化监测线粒体自身及内部微环境的变化对于生命现象的研究和疾病的诊断与治疗具有非常重要的意义。荧光分析法因具有操作简便、灵敏度高、选择性好、实时检测以及损伤小等优点而得到了广泛的研究和应用。双光子荧光探针技术相对于单光子荧光技术具有长波吸收短波发射、高度的三维空间选择性、大的穿透深度、避免荧光漂白和光致毒以及降低组织自发荧光干扰等特点,在生命科学领域具有广阔的应用前景。该文介绍了有机双光子吸收基本原理以及有机双光子线粒体内活性小分子荧光探针的研究现状,同时对有机线粒体内活性小分子荧光探针今后的发展趋势进行了展望。     

基于抑制扭转的分子内电荷转移(TICT)提升有机小分子荧光染料亮度及光稳定性※

有机小分子荧光染料研究已有170余年历史, 其结构和性能随着合成方法和应用需求的发展而不断革新, 已被广泛应用于荧光标记、探针和生物成像中. 近年来发展起来的超分辨荧光成像技术对有机小分子荧光染料的亮度、稳定性和开关性能等均提出了更高的要求, 这为染料发展带来了新的机遇. 当前, 化学工作者也将更多精力聚焦在染料结构改造提升有机小分子荧光染料的亮度与光稳定性. 激发态扭转的分子内电荷转移(TICT)是有机小分子荧光染料中主要的非辐射衰减途径之一. 因而, 抑制TICT能够很好地提升染料的亮度和光稳定性, 并成为目前针对超分辨成像技术发展高亮度和光稳定性的有机小分子荧光染料的主要方法. 本综述首先简要回顾了TICT的机制和发展过程, 而后重点介绍近些年通过抑制TICT策略来提升不同结构有机小分子荧光染料光谱性能方面的进展.     

线粒体荧光探针研究新进展

近年来,许多基于有机小分子既能定位于线粒体又能够检测线粒体内各类活性小分子的双功能线粒体荧光探针被相继报道,成功地实现了线粒体内多种活性物种的检测和可视化成像,这些物种包括活性氧、还原性物种、金属离子、质子、阴离子等.为进一步对线粒体内特定活性小分子进行组织及活体内无创检测与成像,性能优良的双光子及近红外探针的设计合成备受瞩目.围绕近年来出现的线粒体荧光探针依据检测对象进行总结与评述,展望了线粒体荧光探针在癌症等病症的前期诊断和后期治疗方面的发展趋势.     

近红外二区有机小分子荧光探针

荧光成像凭借灵敏度高、特异性强等诸多优势在重大疾病的诊疗领域发挥着重要作用.然而传统的近红外一区（NIR-I,700~900 nm）荧光成像存在组织穿透性差等问题,限制了其临床应用.近红外二区（NIR-II,1000~1700 nm）荧光成像可以极大地减弱生物组织对光的吸收、散射和自发荧光,从而显著提升成像深度及成像效果.在众多NIR-II荧光探针中,有机小分子由于具有毒性低、代谢快等优点正成为该领域的研究热点.作者以近年来NIR-II有机小分子荧光探针的发展为主体,概括了提升探针荧光量子产率的策略,分别就可激活型、多模态成像型和诊疗一体化型NIR-II荧光探针进行分类讨论,系统介绍了近年来该领域内的研究成果,并针对NIR-II荧光探针未来的发展进行了展望.     

巯基化合物近红外小分子荧光试剂的研究进展

巯基化合物(RSH)广泛存在于生物体内,在生命活动中起着关键作用。因此,检测其含量变化及动态分布十分必要。近红外(NIR,600nm)荧光由于背景干扰少、组织穿透力强、对生物损伤小等特点日益成为人们关注的焦点,而有机小分子荧光试剂在近红外荧光分析中的应用较多。本文引用文献94篇,按有机小分子的荧光团分类,对2010年以来用于巯基化合物分析的有机小分子荧光试剂进行了综述,并展望了其发展趋势和应用前景。     

基于硅杂蒽类染料的荧光探针及其应用

近年来,荧光成像技术为人们研究活体细胞及组织内的化学生物学过程提供了有效的研究工具,可以无损、实时、原位地以高时空分辨率实现对目标物进行生物荧光成像与分析。荧光成像技术在生物学、环境监测、临床诊断和药物发现等诸多研究领域发挥着越来越重要的作用。生物荧光成像技术的最新进展对发展新型小分子荧光染料及探针提出了更高的要求。激发和发射波长位于近红外光区（600~900 nm）的荧光染料及探针由于具有光毒性低、生物分子自发荧光干扰小、光散射低、组织穿透能力强等优点,非常适合用于生物荧光成像领域。通过将罗丹明分子中O桥原子用Si代替,得到了一类新型的探针分子--硅杂蒽类荧光探针。这类染料分子在保留了氧杂蒽荧光染料优越的光学性质的同时,光谱发生明显红移,满足了近红外荧光检测的要求,具有良好的生物相容性。本文综述了近年来基于硅杂蒽及其衍生物荧光探针的合成及在金属离子、pH值、小分子、生物酶等检测方面的研究进展,并且简要阐述了基于硅杂蒽类探针分子的识别检测机理以及其在生物成像等方面的应用。     

量子点成像的新研究进展

量子点(又称纳米荧光颗粒)在生物学研究中特别是在生物医学成像方面的应用,已引起广泛关注。通过荧光成像可观察量子点标记分子与其靶标的相互作用,实时观测其在活细胞及活体中的运行轨迹,实现对细胞水平及在体层次的研究。本文综述了近两年量子点在光学成像中应用的新进展,展望了其应用前景。     

Versatile Fluorescent Probes for Imaging the Superoxide Anion in Living Cells and In Vivo

The superoxide anion (O₂^.?) is widely engaged in the regulation of cell functions and is thereby intimately associated with the onset and progression of many diseases. To ascertain the pathological roles of O₂^.? in related diseases, developing effective methods for monitoring O₂^.? in biological systems is essential. Fluorescence imaging is a powerful tool for monitoring bioactive molecules in cells and in vivo owing to its high sensitivity and high temporal‐spatial resolution. Therefore, increasing numbers of fluorescent imaging probes have been constructed to monitor O₂^.? inside live cells and small animals. In this minireview, we summarize the methods for design and application of O₂^.?‐responsive fluorescent probes. Moreover, we present the challenges for detecting O₂^.? and suggestions for constructing new fluorescent probes that can indicate the production sites and concentration changes in O₂^.? as well as O₂^.?‐associated active molecules in living cells and in vivo.     

Versatile Fluorescent Probes for Imaging the Superoxide Anion in Living Cells and In Vivo

The superoxide anion (O₂^.−) is widely engaged in the regulation of cell functions and is thereby intimately associated with the onset and progression of many diseases. To ascertain the pathological roles of O₂^.− in related diseases, developing effective methods for monitoring O₂^.− in biological systems is essential. Fluorescence imaging is a powerful tool for monitoring bioactive molecules in cells and in vivo owing to its high sensitivity and high temporal-spatial resolution. Therefore, increasing numbers of fluorescent imaging probes have been constructed to monitor O₂^.− inside live cells and small animals. In this minireview, we summarize the methods for design and application of O₂^.−-responsive fluorescent probes. Moreover, we present the challenges for detecting O₂^.− and suggestions for constructing new fluorescent probes that can indicate the production sites and concentration changes in O₂^.− as well as O₂^.−-associated active molecules in living cells and in vivo.     

In vivo Fluorescence Imaging of Tumors using Molecular Aptamers Generated by Cell‐SELEX

Poor sensitivity and low specificity of current molecular imaging probes limit their application in clinical settings. To address these challenges, we used a process known as cell‐SELEX to develop unique molecular probes termed aptamers with the high binding affinity, sensitivity, and specificity needed for in vivo molecular imaging inside living animals. Importantly, aptamers can be selected by cell‐SELEX to recognize target cells, or even surface membrane proteins, without requiring prior molecular signature information. As a result, we are able to present the first report of aptamers molecularly engineered with signaling molecules and optimized for the fluorescence imaging of specific tumor cells inside a mouse. Using a Cy5‐labeled aptamer TD05 (Cy5‐TD05) as the probe, the in vivo efficacy of aptamer‐based molecular imaging in Ramos (B‐cell lymphoma) xenograft nude mice was tested. After intravenous injection of Cy5‐TD05 into mice bearing grafted tumors, noninvasive, whole‐body fluorescence imaging then allowed the spatial and temporal distribution to be directly monitored. Our results demonstrate that the aptamers could effectively recognize tumors with high sensitivity and specificity, thus establishing the efficacy of these fluorescent aptamers for diagnostic applications and in vivo studies requiring real‐time molecular imaging.     

Combinatorial discovery of fluorescent pharmacophores by multicomponent reactions in droplet arrays

Fluorescence imaging in clinical diagnostics and biomedical research relies to a great extent on the use of small organic fluorescent probes. Because of the difficulty of combining fluorescent and molecular-recognition properties, the development of such probes has been severely restricted to a number of well-known fluorescent scaffolds. Here we demonstrate that autofluorescing druglike molecules are a valuable source of bioimaging probes. Combinatorial synthesis and screening of chemical libraries in droplet microarrays allowed the identification of new types of fluorophores. Their concise and clean assembly by a multicomponent reaction presents a unique potential for the one-step synthesis of thousands of structurally diverse fluorescent molecules. Because they are based upon a druglike scaffold, these fluorophores retain their molecular recognition potential and can be used to design specific imaging probes.     

用于检测生物体系中线粒体活性氧的荧光探针

In addition to being the energy powerhouse of the cell, mitochondria are an important source of reactive oxygen species (ROS) during the process of molecular oxygen metabolism. Mitochondrial ROS are closely associated with normal physiological functions as well as human diseases, and participate in cell signaling, nucleic acid and protein damage, and oxidative stress induction. However, the complicated interplay between mitochondrial ROS and the cellular pathological state has not been fully elucidated. It is expected that research on the mitochondrial ROS undertaking in the molecular pathogenesis of human diseases would benefit from development of efficient tools for the detection of these ROS. In recent years, an increasing number of fluorescent probes for mitochondrial ROS with high sensitivity and selectivity have been developed. Here, we present a review of the recent advances in small molecular fluorescent probes for selective detection of ROS inside the mitochondria. In this review, the design, synthesis, characteristics, and applications of the published fluorescent probes for mitochondrial ROS are discussed in detail.     

基于三苯胺的荧光探针设计、合成与应用研究进展

螺旋桨结构的三苯胺荧光团既能作为强的电子供体,又能作为潜在的聚集诱导发光(AIE)骨架.同时,三苯胺衍生物很容易通过简单的反应进行结构修饰,如醛基、氨基、硼酸基、卤素、乙炔基等取代的三苯胺能够发生缩合反应或偶联反应等,进一步功能化.因此,功能性三苯胺类化合物被广泛用于太阳能电池、荧光染料、固态发光材料和荧光探针的分子设计中.根据三苯胺基荧光探针的检测对象,将其分为阳离子、阴离子和中性小分子荧光探针三类,并从分子的结构和性能出发,重点综述了近五年来国内外三苯胺基荧光探针在分子设计、合成与检测应用方面的最新进展.展望未来,构建近红外发光和高量子效率的AIE荧光探针值得关注.     

检测活性氧物种的氧杂蒽类光学探针的研究进展

活性氧物种在维持生物体的生理功能方面发挥着重要的作用.高于正常水平的活性氧物种会损伤蛋白质、DNA等生物分子,进而导致疾病.因此,活性氧物种的高选择性、高灵敏度检测研究对疾病的预防、诊断和治疗均具有重要意义.荧光探针因具有分析灵敏度高、样品时空分辨能力强等特点,已在该方面获得了广泛的应用.其中,具有发射波长长,光稳定性好,荧光量子产率高等优点的氧杂蒽类荧光探针已成为检测活性氧物种的研究热点.本论文主要总结了近五年来应用于活性氧物种检测的氧杂蒽类荧光探针的研究进展与成像分析,归纳了不同活性氧物种的识别单元,并展望了此类探针的发展趋势与应用前景.     

激发态分子内质子转移荧光探针的研究进展

荧光探针凭借其选择性好、灵敏度高、响应时间快、易于操作和检测限低等优点得到了广泛的关注。 激发态分子内质子转移(ESIPT)化合物具有特殊的激发态光物理过程,其显著的光物理性质是有较高的荧光量子产率及大的斯托克斯位移。 对于荧光分子而言,较大的斯托克斯位移可以减少自吸收和由内滤效应产生的干扰,增强分子的耐光性,有利于荧光的发射。 本文对ESIPT荧光探针检测离子(包括金属阳离子和阴离子)、中性小分子和生物大分子的研究进展进行阐述,并对ESIPT荧光分子的存在问题和应用前景进行评述。     

Small Molecular Fluorescent Probes for Imaging of Viscosity in Living Biosystems

Viscosity, as a vital microenvironment parameter, is tightly associated with multitudinous cellular processes and diseases. Recently, precise visualization of viscosity has started to arouse more and more interest. However, owing to the complicated character, it is still a huge challenge to directly observe viscosity in living systems. In this regard, mounting fluorescence probes are being increasingly fabricated to map viscosity inside live cells and small animals. In this minireview, the viscosity-sensitive small molecular fluorescent probes used in bioimaging are comprehensively summarized, mainly focusing on the last three years. Moreover, the current challenges and opportunities for the development of viscosity-specific fluorescent probes will be discussed.