Dynamic-Reversible MRI Nanoprobe for Continuous Imaging Redox Homeostasis in Hepatic Ischemia-Reperfusion Injury

Hepatic ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) injury accompanied by oxidative stress is responsible for postoperative liver dysfunction and failure of liver surgery. However, the dynamic non-invasive mapping of redox homeostasis in deepseated liver during hepatic I/R injury remains a great challenge. Herein, inspired by the intrinsic reversibility of disulfide bond in proteins, a kind of reversible redox-responsive magnetic nanoparticles (RRMNs) is designed for reversible imaging of both oxidant and antioxidant levels (ONOO-/GSH), based on sulfhydryl coupling/cleaving reaction. We develop a facile strategy to prepare such reversible MRI nanoprobe via one-step surface modification. Owing to the significant change in size during the reversible response, the imaging sensitivity of RRMNs is greatly improved, which enables RRMNs to monitor the tiny change of oxidative stress in liver injury. Notably, such reversible MRI nanoprobe can non-invasively visualize the deepseated liver tissue slice by slice in living mice. Moreover, this MRI nanoprobe can not only report molecular information about the degree of liver injury but also provide anatomical information about where the pathology occurred. The reversible MRI probe is promising for accurately and facilely monitoring I/R process, accessing injury degree and developing powerful strategy for precise treatment.

Automated summary

A reversible redox-responsive magnetic nanoprobe was designed to monitor oxidative stress levels in liver injury. The nanoprobe showed high imaging sensitivity and could visualize tiny changes in oxidative stress in real time. Additionally, the nanoprobe provided molecular and anatomical information about the degree and location of liver injury.