A novel TICT-based near-infrared fluorescent probe for light-up sensing and imaging of human serum albumin in real samples

Human serum albumin (HSA) has emerged as a pivotal biomarker and prognostic indicator for various human diseases. Real-time sensing and visual tracking of HSA in plasma or other biological systems will immensely facilitate the basic researchers and clinicians to better understand HSA-associated biological processes. Herein, a novel near-infrared (NIR) fluorescent probe (7-HTCF) was rationally constructed for light-up sensing and in-situ imaging of HSA in real samples, based on the principle of twisted intramolecular charge transfer (TICT). Under physiological conditions, 7-HTCF could be efficiently trapped by HSA to form a stable complex via binding on a non-drug binding site, while the complex emitted strong fluoresce signals around 670 nm. Further investigations demonstrated that 7-HTCF displayed a great combination of excellent selectivity and good chemical stability, as well as rapid fluorescent response and ultra-high sensitivity for HSA detection. Particularly, the newly developed light-up probe has been successfully utilized for quantitative detection of HSA in diluted plasma samples, while its readouts are hardly affected by the addition of therapeutic agents and herbal medicines. 7-HTCF is also successfully used for in-situ imaging of the reabsorbed HSA in living renal cells, while this dye exhibits good cell permeability and high resolution for in-situ imaging in living cells. Collectively, a novel TICT-based near-infrared fluorescent probe was devised for highly selective and ultra-sensitive sensing of HSA in plasma samples or imaging HSA in living cells, which offered a practical tool for clinical tests and for exploring HSA-associated biological processes.(c) 2022 Published by Elsevier B.V. on behalf of Chinese Chemical Society and Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences.

Automated summary

Human serum albumin (HSA) serves as an important biomarker and prognostic indicator for various human diseases. A novel near-infrared fluorescent probe (7-HTCF) was developed for real-time sensing and in-situ imaging of HSA. The probe exhibited excellent selectivity, good chemical stability, rapid fluorescent response, and ultra-high sensitivity for HSA detection. It can be used for quantitative detection of HSA in diluted plasma samples and for in-situ imaging of reabsorbed HSA in living cells.