A sensitive fluorescent probe for β-galactosidase activity detection and application in ovarian tumor imaging

The development of non-invasive and sensitive optical probes for in vivo bioimaging of cancer-related enzymes is desirable for early diagnosis and effective cancer therapy. beta-galactosidase (beta-gal) is regarded as a key ovarian cancer biomarker, owing to its overexpression in primary ovarian cancer. Herein, we designed a sensitive near-infrared (NIR) probe (DCMCA-beta gal) for the detection and real-time imaging of beta-gal activity in ovarian tumors, thereby achieving the visualization of ovarian tumors by beta-gal activity detection. DCMCA-beta-gal could be triggered by beta-gal, resulting in the release of a NIR chromophore, DCM-NH2; the linear range of fluorescent response to beta-gal concentration was 0-1.2 U with a low detection limit of 1.26 x 10(-3) U mL(-1). We used DCMCA-beta-gal to detect and visualize beta-gal activity in SKOV3 human ovarian cancer cells, as well as for real-time imaging of beta-gal activity in ovarian cancer mouse models. DCMCA-beta-gal possessed high sensitivity, turn-on NIR emission, a large spectral shift, and high photostability in a dynamic living system and thus could serve as a highly sensitive sensor for real-time tracking of beta-gal activity in vivo and ovarian tumor imaging.

Automated summary

A sensitive near-infrared probe was designed for the detection and real-time imaging of beta-galactosidase activity in ovarian tumors, showing high sensitivity and a low detection limit. It could serve as a highly sensitive sensor for real-time tracking of beta-galactosidase activity in vivo and ovarian tumor imaging.