Fluorescence Imaging of Disease Biomarkers

A special issue of Targets (ISSN 2813-3137).

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 August 2024) | Viewed by 9612

Special Issue Editors


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Guest Editor
Chemical Imaging in Universities of Shandong, Institutes of Biomedical Sciences, Shandong Normal University, Jinan 250014, China
Interests: bioimaging; molecular diagnosis and therapy; fluorescent organic molecular probes and nanoprobes

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
School of Science, School of Life Sciences, Westlake Laboratory, Westlake University, Hangzhou 310030, China
Interests: fluorescence imaging, chemistry of biological aggregates

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

This Special Issue aims to publish a set of papers that typify the most exceptional, insightful and original research articles or reviews on fluorescence imaging of disease biomarkers. We expect these papers to be widely read and highly influential within the field.

As a powerful approach for detecting molecular events in biological systems, fluorescence imaging has attracted increasing attention, particularly the visualization of key biomarkers associated with diseases. Thus, this field is perfectly matched with targets for bio-detection.

Prof. Dr. Ping Li
Prof. Dr. Xin Zhang
Guest Editors

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Keywords

  • fluorescence imaging
  • molecular probes
  • nanoprobes
  • disease biomarkers
  • in vivo imaging

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Published Papers (5 papers)

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Research

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11 pages, 5200 KiB  
Article
Unit-Emitting Carbon Dots for Cell Imaging and Lipid Droplet Quantification
by Yanli Xu and Yunsheng Xia
Targets 2024, 2(2), 126-136; https://doi.org/10.3390/targets2020008 - 11 Jun 2024
Viewed by 1138
Abstract
The interactions between carbon dots (C-dots) and cells and the corresponding subcellular organelle localization are both significant for bio-sensing and bio-imaging. In this study, we explore cellular uptake and internalization behaviors of two kinds of lipophilic unit-emitting C-dots for three different kinds of [...] Read more.
The interactions between carbon dots (C-dots) and cells and the corresponding subcellular organelle localization are both significant for bio-sensing and bio-imaging. In this study, we explore cellular uptake and internalization behaviors of two kinds of lipophilic unit-emitting C-dots for three different kinds of cells. It is found that both C-dots can localize in lipid droplets with high efficiency. Compared with commercial dyes, the imaged lipid droplets by the proposed C-dots possess well-defined outlines. Based on such superior imaging performances, the quantification of lipid droplets for cells pretreated by oleic acid stimulation and starvation is well achieved. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Fluorescence Imaging of Disease Biomarkers)
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12 pages, 8224 KiB  
Article
Unveiling the Role of Concanavalin A in a Rodent Model of Chemical-Induced Hepatocellular Carcinoma: A Promising Guide in Understanding Liver Cancer Development
by Romelia Pop, Dragoș Hodor, Cornel Cătoi, Teodora Mocan, Lucian Mocan and Alexandru-Flaviu Tăbăran
Targets 2024, 2(1), 52-63; https://doi.org/10.3390/targets2010003 - 16 Feb 2024
Viewed by 1725
Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma is a pressing global health issue, ranking as the third leading cause of cancer-related mortality in humans. Chronic liver diseases, such as hepatitis B and C infections and cirrhosis, are often associated with hepatocellular carcinoma, necessitating ongoing research for improved diagnostic [...] Read more.
Hepatocellular carcinoma is a pressing global health issue, ranking as the third leading cause of cancer-related mortality in humans. Chronic liver diseases, such as hepatitis B and C infections and cirrhosis, are often associated with hepatocellular carcinoma, necessitating ongoing research for improved diagnostic and therapeutic strategies. Animal models, including both spontaneous and chemically induced models like diethylnitrosamine, play a pivotal role in understanding hepatocellular carcinoma mechanisms. Metabolic alterations in tumoral hepatocytes contribute significantly to cancer initiation and progression, impacting energy metabolism and cell survival. Lectins, specifically Concanavalin A, provide valuable insights into altered glycosylation patterns in cancer cells. This study employs lectin histochemistry to assess hepatic alterations in Concanavalin A expression in a murine model of diethylnitrosamine-induced hepatocellular carcinoma. Utilizing confocal laser scanning microscopy, our study unveils notable changes in Concanavalin A subcellular localization and intensity distribution in hepatocellular carcinoma compared with healthy liver tissue. A significant increase in the Concanavalin A labeling within the tumoral cells and a shifting of the expression within the perinuclear space is observed. These findings offer valuable insights into molecular changes in hepatocellular carcinoma, providing potential avenues for diagnostic and therapeutic advancements. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Fluorescence Imaging of Disease Biomarkers)
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15 pages, 3896 KiB  
Article
The Synthesis of BODIPY-TKI Conjugates and Investigation of Their Ability to Target the Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor
by Simran Dhingra, Prajesh Shrestha, Arpan Chowdhury, Zehua Zhou, Seetharama D. Jois and Maria da Graça H. Vicente
Targets 2023, 1(1), 48-62; https://doi.org/10.3390/targets1010005 - 30 Aug 2023
Viewed by 1917
Abstract
A near-IR BODIPY was covalently conjugated via its isothiocyanate groups to one or two Erlotinib molecules, a known tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI), via triethylene glycol spacers, to produce two novel BODIPY-monoTKI and BODIPY-diTKI conjugates. The ability of these conjugates to target the intracellular [...] Read more.
A near-IR BODIPY was covalently conjugated via its isothiocyanate groups to one or two Erlotinib molecules, a known tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI), via triethylene glycol spacers, to produce two novel BODIPY-monoTKI and BODIPY-diTKI conjugates. The ability of these conjugates to target the intracellular domain of the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) was investigated using molecular modeling, surface plasma resonance (SPR), EGFR kinase binding assay, time-dependent cellular uptake, and fluorescence microscopy. While both the BODIPY-monoTKI and the BODIPY-diTKI conjugates were shown to bind to the EGFR kinase by SPR and accumulated more efficiently within human HEp2 cells that over-express EGFR than BODIPY alone, only the BODIPY-monoTKI exhibited kinase inhibition activity. This is due to the high hydrophobic character and aggregation behavior of the BODIPY-diTKI in aqueous solutions, as shown by fluorescence quenching. Furthermore, the competition of the two Erlotinibs in the diTKI conjugate for the active site of the kinase, as suggested by computational modeling, might lead to a decrease in binding relative to the monoTKI conjugate. Nevertheless, the efficient cellular uptake and intracellular localization of both conjugates with no observed cytotoxicity suggest that both could be used as near-IR fluorescent markers for cells that over-express EGFR. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Fluorescence Imaging of Disease Biomarkers)
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Review

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22 pages, 3343 KiB  
Review
Review of Hydrogen Sulfide Based on Its Activity Mechanism and Fluorescence Sensing
by Jinlong Zhang, Quan Jing, Fei Gao, Fuxin Zhang, Dong Pei, Duolong Di and Jun Hai
Targets 2024, 2(3), 202-223; https://doi.org/10.3390/targets2030012 - 7 Aug 2024
Viewed by 1085
Abstract
The significance of hydrogen sulfide (H2S) in biological research is covered in detail in this work. H2S is a crucial gas-signaling molecule that is involved in a wide range of illnesses and biological processes. Whether H2S has [...] Read more.
The significance of hydrogen sulfide (H2S) in biological research is covered in detail in this work. H2S is a crucial gas-signaling molecule that is involved in a wide range of illnesses and biological processes. Whether H2S has a beneficial therapeutic effect or negative pathological toxicity in an organism depends on changes in its concentration. A novel approach to treatment is the regulation of H2S production by medications or other measures. Furthermore, H2S is a useful marker for disease assessment because of its dual nature and sensitivity. We can better understand the onset and progression of disease by developing probes to track changes in H2S concentration based on the nucleophilicity, reducing properties, and metal coordination properties of H2S. This will aid in diagnosis and treatment. These results demonstrate the enormous potential of H2S in the detection and management of disease. Future studies should concentrate on clarifying the relationship between diseases and the mechanism of action of H2S in organisms. Ultimately, this work opens new possibilities for disease diagnosis and treatment while highlighting the significance of H2S in biological research. Future clinical practice and medical advancements will benefit greatly from our thorough understanding of the mechanism of action and therapeutic applications of H2S. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Fluorescence Imaging of Disease Biomarkers)
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29 pages, 9546 KiB  
Review
Fluorescent Imaging Agents for Brain Diseases
by Feida Che, Xiaoming Zhao, Xin Wang, Ping Li and Bo Tang
Targets 2023, 1(1), 5-33; https://doi.org/10.3390/targets1010003 - 1 Jun 2023
Viewed by 2743
Abstract
The onset of brain diseases has a terrible impact on people’s lives, including brain tumors, Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, depression, and schizophrenia. Thus, the diagnosis and treatment of various brain disorders have been receiving specific attention. The fluorescence imaging technique is useful for [...] Read more.
The onset of brain diseases has a terrible impact on people’s lives, including brain tumors, Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, depression, and schizophrenia. Thus, the diagnosis and treatment of various brain disorders have been receiving specific attention. The fluorescence imaging technique is useful for examining brain diseases because it is intuitive, in situ, and real-time. Therefore, fluorescent imaging has so far been successfully employed to identify molecules associated with brain disease. In this review, the last five years of research advancements in fluorescent imaging agents for the above diseases are summarized, and the creation of pertinent fluorescence probes is described and prospected. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Fluorescence Imaging of Disease Biomarkers)
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