In Vivo Brain Imaging of Amyloid-β Aggregates in Alzheimer's Disease with a Near-Infrared Fluorescent Probe

Abnormal accumulation of amyloid-beta (A beta) has been determined to be a critical factor for the progression of Alzheimer's disease (AD), which has motivated the development of new chemical approaches for early sensing and imaging of these A beta aggregates. Herein, we report a new near-infrared (NIR) fluorescent probe for the selective monitoring of A beta aggregates in vivo. This novel fluorophore, named CAQ, was based on the curcumin scaffold and was designed by introducing an intramolecular rotation donor and a quinoline functional group. CAQ was an environment-sensitive fluorescent probe that can be used as a reliable chemical tool for NIR imaging of amyloid plaques in a live Caenorhabditis elegans model of AD and in 5x FAD transgenic mice of early amyloid deposition. Our observations indicate that CAQ is promising for providing comprehensive information on neurodegenerative research, thereby promoting a deeper understanding of Alzheimer's pathological processes.

Automated summary

This study introduces a novel near-infrared fluorescent probe named CAQ for selective monitoring of A beta aggregates in vivo, which shows promise in providing comprehensive information for neurodegenerative disease research, promoting a deeper understanding of Alzheimer's pathological processes.