Fluorinated Ionic Liquid Based Multicolor 19F MRI Nanoprobes for In Vivo Sensing of Multiple Biological Targets

Multicolor imaging, which maps the distribution of different targets, is important for in vivo molecular imaging and clinical diagnosis. Fluorine 19 magnetic resonance imaging (F-19 MRI) is a promising technique because of unique insights without endogenous background or tissue penetration limit. Thus multicolor F-19 MRI probes, which can sense a wide variety of molecular species, are expected to help elucidate the biomolecular networks in complex biological systems. Here, a versatile model of activatable probes based on fluorinated ionic liquids (ILs) for multicolor F-19 MRI is reported. Three types of ILs at different chemical shifts are loaded in nanocarriers and sealed by three stimuli-sensitive copolymers, leading to off F-19 signals. The coating polymers specifically respond to their environmental stimuli, then degrade to release the loaded ILs, causing F-19 signals recovery. The nanoprobes are utilized for non-invasive detection of tumor hallmarks, which are distinguished by their individual colors in one living mouse, without interference between each other. This multicolor imaging strategy, which adopts modular construction of various ILs and stimuli-responsive polymers, will allow more comprehensive sensing of multiple biological targets, thus, opening a new realm in mechanistic understanding of complex pathophysiologic processes in vivo.

Automated summary

This study presents a versatile model of activatable probes for multicolor F-19 MRI based on fluorinated ionic liquids, loaded in nanocarriers and sealed by stimuli-sensitive copolymers. It allows non-invasive detection of tumor hallmarks by distinguishing individual colors in living organisms, offering a new realm in mechanistic understanding of complex pathophysiologic processes in vivo.