A Glutathione-Responsive Luminescence Sensor Based on Dual-Emissive Persistent Luminescent Nanoparticles for Ratiometric Tumor Imaging

Persistent luminescent nanoparticles (PLNP) have outstanding advantages in low-background imaging. However, avoiding exogenous interference and false positive signals to achieve precise imaging is still a problem. In addition, it is also a great challenge to intelligently control the size of PLNP. Herein, we report an intelligent luminescence ratiometric sensor based on ultra-small dual-emissive PLNP for precise tumor-targeted imaging. ZnGa2O4:Cr PLNP with a particle size of c.a. 5-10 nm and two emission peaks at 708 nm and 501 nm were firstly synthesized by thermal decomposition method along with systematical controlling the amount of chromium. PLNP-Mal@Cy5.5 sensor was further constructed with a constant ratio (I-708/I-501) which is not interfered by exogenous factors such as detection time window and probe concentration. However, high concentrations of glutathione in the tumor microenvironment can specifically trigger the change of I-708/I-501 and cause the sensor to self-assemble into clusters at tumor site, thus realizing long-term retention and specificity imaging.

Automated summary

In this study, an intelligent luminescence ratiometric sensor based on ultra-small dual-emissive PLNP is reported for precise tumor-targeted imaging. The PLNP-Mal@Cy5.5 sensor can achieve long-term retention and specificity imaging by detecting the change of I-708/I-501.