A supramolecular, polymer-dot-based ensemble has been developed for the ratiometric detection of lectins and targeted delivery of glycoprobes. Self-assembly between a blue-emitting polymer dot and a red-emitting glycoprobe, results in an ensemble that shows red emission upon excitation of the polymer dot because of Förster resonance energy transfer. Resulting in ratiometric detection of lectins in buffer solution as well as targeted delivery of the glycoprobe to cells that highly express a sugar receptor. Unlike conventional systems where both the agent and vector are codelivered intracellularly, our ensemble developed here shows a receptor-controlled dissociation on the cell membrane.Keywords: cell imaging; glycoprobe; polymer dot; probe; ratiometric;

•Donor-Acceptor-Donor (D-A-D) DCM dye as a new probe for amyloid β (Aβ).•The fluorogenic probe rapidly senses Aβ in aqueous solution.•The probe can image Aβ of different morphologies.•The probe quickly detects the senile plaques deposited in a transgenic mouse brain.The effective imaging of amyloid β (Aβ) in vivo is important for the diagnosis of Aβ-related diseases such as the Alzheimer's disease (AD). Here we report a donor-acceptor-donor (D-A-D) type fluorogenic probe for the rapid imaging of amyloid β (Aβ) senile plaques in a transgenic mouse brain. The probe that features a dicyanomethylene-4H-pyran (DCM) core shows a concentration-dependent fluorescence enhancement with Aβ42 and Aβ40, which are the main components of Aβ fibrils formed in the brain of AD patients. The D-A-D probe can also be used to rapidly sense Aβ peptide monomer, oligomer and fibril in an aqueous solution and image the morphologically diverse Aβ species by confocal microscopy. In particular, we demonstrate that the probe can be used to rapidly stain Aβ senile plaques in the brain of transgenic mice by intravenous injection.

Supramolecular self-assembly between perylenediimide-based glycoclusters and a red-emitting fluorophore produces structurally uniform and stable glyco-dots amenable to targeted fluorogenic imaging of liver and triple-negative breast cancer cells.

Here we show that graphene oxide greatly enhances the imaging ability of a peptide probe that selectively targets microtubules of the cytoskeleton, thus enabling the dynamic tracking of mitosis in live cells.

The development of small-molecule fluorescent probes for the detection of ions and biomacromolecules and for cellular and in vivo imaging has been a very active research area. Nevertheless, many problems exist for traditional probes including their poor water solubility, toxicity and the inability to target specific tissues. Because of the enhanced water solubility, biocompatibility and targeting ability for specific cells, there has been an emerging movement to use carbohydrates as either the backbone or as a warhead to decorate conventional fluorescent probes, producing “glycoprobes” with enhanced properties. This feature article provides an overview of recently developed glycoprobes for ion and protein detection as well as targeted (receptor targeting) cellular imaging and theranostics. Here, we summarise the tactics for preparing small molecular glycoprobes and their supramolecular 2D material composites.

•Our study focused on the development of non-covalent proteasome inhibitors.•Most target compounds were more potent than the approved drug carfilzomib.•All the tested compounds exhibited potent anti-proliferative activities.•Compound 35 displayed potent ex vivo and in vivo proteasome inhibitory activities.•The t1/2 of compound 35 was 2-fold longer than the analogue without piperidine ring.A series of novel piperazine or piperidine-containing non-covalent peptidyl derivatives possessing a neopentyl-asparagine residue were designed, synthesized and evaluated as proteasome inhibitors. All target compounds were screened for their 20S proteasome chymotrypsin-like inhibitory activities, and 15 ones displayed more potent activities than carfilzomib with IC50 values lower than 10 nM. Subsequently, the most potent 10 analogues were tested for their cytotoxic activities against two multiple myeloma (MM) cell lines RPMI-8226 and MM-1S. Based on these experiments, selected derivatives were further evaluated for their ex vivo and in vivo blood cell proteasome inhibitory activities. The most potential compound 35 (proteasome inhibition IC50: 1.2 ± 0.1 nM) with potent anti-proliferation (IC50: RPMI-8226 8.4 ± 0.8 nM; MM-1S: 6.3 ± 0.8 nM), ex vivo and in vivo activities also had a prolonged half life in plasma, which demonstrated that the enzymatic stabilities of this series of compounds have been improved by constructing a six-membered ring into the peptide skeleton. All the experiments confirmed the correctness of design concept, which made this series of compounds potential leads for exploring new anti-MM drugs.A series of novel non-covalent piperazine or piperidine-containing dipeptidyl derivatives possessing a neopentyl-asparagine residue, as exemplified by compound 35, were designed and synthesized. Most of the target compounds exhibited potent in vitro, ex vivo and in vivo proteasome inhibitory activities and anti-proliferation activities against two multiple myeloma cell lines. Additionally, the enzymatic stability of target compound was also improved.Download high-res image (193KB)Download full-size image

•Novel 4,7,12,12a-tetrahydro-5H-thieno[3′,2’:3,4]pyrido[1,2-b]isoquinolines were designed, synthesized, and biologically evaluated for their anti-diabetic activity.•Twelve compounds displayed good activities of stimulating glucose consumption (>1.6 fold).•Optimized compounds 4bq and 4bv inhibited mitochondria respiratory chain complex I and activated AMPK indirectly.•Compounds 4bq and 4bv were found to possess improved pharmacokinetic profiles (bioavailability 45 and 106%, respectively) compared to berberine.•In a db/db mice model, compounds 4bq and 4bv lowered fasting blood glucose at a dose of 120 mg/kg/day.A series of novel berberine derivatives, 4,7,12,12a-tetrahydro-5H-thieno[3′,2’:3,4]pyrido[1,2-b]isoquinolines was designed, synthesized, and biologically evaluated for their anti-diabetic activity. Following the evaluation in two types of cells, compounds 4aa, 4bq, and 4bv stimulated glucose consumption (1.8- to 2.3-fold), reduced gluconeogenesis (60–85%), inhibited mitochondria respiratory chain complex I and activated AMPK indirectly. In a db/db mice model, compounds 4bq and 4bv lowered fasting blood glucose at a dose of 120 mg/kg/day. In addition, compounds 4bq and 4bv were found to possess improved pharmacokinetic profiles (bioavailability 45 and 106%, respectively) compared to berberine. Compounds 4bq and 4bv exhibited no obvious hERG inhibition (IC50 > 10 μM).A series of novel berberine derivatives, as AMPK indirect activators, was designed, synthesized, and biologically evaluated for their anti-diabetic activity. Optimized compound 4bq stimulated glucose consumption (2.2-fold) in L6 myotubes, reduced hepatocytes gluconeogenesis (by 85%) and improved pharmacokinetic profiles (bioavailability 45%) compared to berberine. In a db/db mice model compound 4bq lowered fasting blood glucose at a dose of 120 mg/kg/day, and compound 4bq exhibited no obvious hERG inhibition (IC50 > 10 μM).Download high-res image (159KB)Download full-size image

•Novel thienopyrimidine hydroxamic acid based derivatives were designed and synthesized.•Most of these compounds displayed good to excellent inhibitory activity against HDACs with the IC50 values below 50 nM.•Some compounds significantly up-regulated the levels of Histone H3 acetylation and α-tubulin acetylation as well as exhibited powerful anti-proliferative activities against cancer cell lines in vitro.New thienopyrimidine hydroxamic acid derivatives as HDACs inhibitors were designed, synthesized and evaluated. All compounds were evaluated for their ability to inhibit recombinant human HDAC1, HDAC3, and HDAC6 isoforms and in vitro anti-proliferative activity on tumor cell lines RMPI 8226 and HCT 116. Most of these compounds displayed good to excellent inhibitory activities against HDACs. The IC50 values of compound 9m against HDAC1, HDAC3, and HDAC6 was 29.81 ± 0.52 nM, 24.71 ± 1.16 nM, and 21.29 ± 0.32 nM. Most of these compounds showed strong anti-proliferative activity against human cancer cell lines including RMPI 8226 and HCT 116. The IC50 values of compound 9m against RPMI 8226 and HCT 116 proliferation were 0.97 ± 0.072 μM and 1.01 ± 0.033 μM, respectively. In addition, compound 9m noticeably up-regulated the level of histone H3 acetylation at the low concentration of 0.3 μM.By rational design and modification, compound 9m showed excellent HDACs inhibitory activity, strong anti-proliferative activity against human cancer cell lines including RMPI 8226 and HCT 116. Moreover, compound 9m noticeably up-regulated the level of histone H3 acetylation at the low concentration of 0.3 μM.Download high-res image (189KB)Download full-size image

Supramolecular self-assembly between poly(3-hexylthiophene-2,5-diyl) (P3HT), a polymeric material extensively used for optoelectronic devices, and fluorescent glycoprobes produces core–glycoshell theranostic nanodots (glyco-dots) capable of targeted imaging and photodynamic therapy of liver and triple-negative breast cancer cells.

We have developed a theranostic nanocomposite of metallic nanoparticles that uses two distinct fluorescence mechanisms: Förster Resonance Energy Transfer (FRET) and Metal-Enhanced Fluorescence (MEF) controlled by ligand–receptor interaction. Supramolecular assembly of the fluorophore-labeled glycoligands to cyclodextrin-capped gold nanoparticles produces a nanocomposite with a quenched fluorescence due to FRET from the fluorophore to the proximal particle. Subsequently, interaction with a selective protein receptor leads to an aggregation of the composite, reactivating the fluorescence by MEF from the distal metallic particles to fluorophores encapsulated in the aggregates. The aggregation also causes a red-shift in absorbance of the composite, thereby enhancing the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) on red-light irradiation. Our nanocomposite has proven suitable for targeted cancer cell imaging as well as multimode therapy using both the photodynamic and drug delivery properties of the composite.

Here we demonstrate that 2D MoS2 can enhance the receptor-targeting and imaging ability of a fluorophore-labelled ligand. The 2D MoS2 has an enhanced working concentration range when compared with graphene oxide, resulting in the improved imaging of both cell and tissue samples.

We report an interlocked supramolecular ensemble formed between a conjugated polymer (CP) and a fluorescent glycoprobe for receptor-targeting cancer cell theranostics.

The synthesis of a series of new N-oxyamide-linked glycoglycerolipids and their assembly with gold nanoparticles for receptor-targeting imaging and drug delivery are reported.

Nine new conjugates of sesquiterpenoids and acylphloroglucinols, named eucarobustols A–I (1–9), as well as 11 known analogues were isolated from the leaves of Eucalyptus robusta. The sesquiterpenoid motifs furnishing the new conjugates included four structural types of aristolane (1 and 2), guaiane (3), eudesmane (4), and aromadendrane (5–9) moieties. Compounds 1 and 2 were found to represent the first examples of conjugates of aristolane and acylphloroglucinol units. In turn, compound 3 features a new coupling model of guaiane and acylphloroglucinol via the C-4–C-7′ bond. Compounds 1, 7, and 9 showed inhibitory activities against protein tyrosine phosphatase 1B (PTP1B) with IC50 values of 1.3, 1.8, and 1.6 μM, respectively.

•Bisthiazole-based HDACi with different ZBGs were designed and synthesized.•Bisthiazole compounds with trifluoromethyl ketone as ZBG showed improved efficacy.•The most potent compound 7 displayed an IC50 value of 20–30 nM against HDACs.•Compound 7 displayed potent antiproliferative activity against several cancer cell lines.Histone deacetylases (HDACs) are a class of epigenetic modulators with complex functions in histone post-translational modifications and are well known targets for antineoplastic drugs. We have previously developed a series of bisthiazole-based hydroxamic acids as novel potent HDAC inhibitors. In the present work, a new series of bisthiazole-based compounds with different zinc binding groups (ZBGs) have been designed and synthesized. Among them is compound 7, containing a trifluoromethyl ketone as the ZBG, which displays potent inhibitory activity towards human HDACs and improved antiproliferative activity in several cancer cell lines.A series of bisthiazole-based compounds with a trifluoromethyl ketone as the ZBG display potent inhibitory activity towards human HDACs and improved antiproliferative activity in several cancer cell lines.

Carbohydrates are important as signaling molecules and for cellular recognition events, therefore offering scope for the development of carbohydrate-mimetic diagnostics and drug candidates. As a consequence, the construction of carbohydrate-based bioactive compounds and sensors has become an active research area. While the advent of click chemistry has greatly accelerated the progress of medicinal chemistry and chemical biology, recent literature has seen an extensive use of such approaches to construct functionally diverse carbohydrate derivatives. Here we summarize some of the progress, covering the period 2010 to mid-2015, in CuI-catalyzed azide-alkyne 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition CuAAC “click chemistry” of carbohydrate derivatives, in the context of potential therapeutic and diagnostic tool development.Figure optionsDownload full-size imageDownload as PowerPoint slideWe summarize the impressive progress since 2010 made in CuAAC-based carbohydrate click chemistry for therapy and diagnosis.

Construction of composite materials based on the self-assembly of fluorescently labeled biomolecules with a variety of micro- or nano-quenching materials (by the Förster Resonance Energy Transfer mechanism) for the fluorogenic recognition of disease-related proteins has become a dynamic research topic in the field of fluorescence recognition. Here we summarize the recent progress on the composition of fluorescence dye-labeled biomolecules including sugars, peptides and nucleotides with organic (graphene and carbon nanotubes) and inorganic (gold nanoparticles) materials. Their application in the fluorescence detection of proteins and enzymes on both the molecular and cellular levels is discussed. Perspectives are proposed with respect to the future directions of employing these composite materials in the recognition of pathological proteins.

Expression of specific transmembrane receptors by cells frequently represents an important signature of diseases, but this dynamic event can hardly be monitored directly with live cells due to the limitation of current biochemical techniques. Here we develop a pyrenyl glycoanthraquinone construct that can be firmly immobilized on a graphene-spotted screen printed electrode via strong π-interactions. The inherent current signal produced by the surface-confined glycoquinone can be used to detect selective sugar–protein recognitions with simple electrochemical techniques and portable facilities. Importantly, we demonstrate that the level of pathogenic receptors expressed by different types of live cells can be tracked with the electrode system in a label-free manner, providing a useful tool for the on-demand disease diagnosis as well as basic biochemical studies.

Correction for ‘Glycosylation enhances the aqueous sensitivity and lowers the cytotoxicity of a naphthalimide zinc ion fluorescence probe’ by Lei Dong et al., Chem. Commun., 2015, DOI: 10.1039/c5cc04357c.

With this research we demonstrate that glycosylation of a naphthalimide zinc ion probe, using click chemistry, leads to an improvement of the aqueous sensitivity, working pH range and targeting ability for specific cells, together with significantly reduced cytotoxicity.

We have developed a galactosyl azidonaphthalimide probe for the selective fluorogenic imaging of hepatocellular H2S, an important gaseous transmitter produced in the liver.

While serology represents the forefront technique for cancer diagnosis, current clinical methods for the detection of serum biomarkers have flaws in terms of the need of complicated manipulations, long analytical time, and high cost. Here, we develop a supramolecular glycoprobe for the quick serological detection of a cancer biomarker. The probe formed by agglutination between self-assembled glyco-gold nanoparticles and a lectin shows subtle optical variations upon the competitive recognition of a glycoprotein biomarker secreted by cancer cells, tumor-bearing mice, as well as clinical cancer patients, with no response to a series of controls including the serum of hepatitis patients. This research provides an insight into the development of effective tools for serological diagnosis of cancer.

Three new chalcones, xanthoangelols K–M (1–3), together with 19 known compounds were isolated from the stems of Angelica keiskei Koidzumi, a well-known rejuvenated and anti-diabetic plant originated from Japan. The structures of compounds 1–3 were elucidated on the basis of spectroscopic data and Mosher’s method. All compounds were evaluated for their inhibitory activity against protein tyrosine phosphatase 1B (PTP1B). Among them, six chalcones, xanthoangelol K (1), xanthoangelol (4), xanthoangelol F (5), 4-hydroxyderricin (6), xanthoangelol D (7), xanthoangelol E (8), and a coumarin, methoxsalen (17), showed strong PTP1B inhibitory effect with IC50 values of 0.82, 1.97, 1.67, 2.47, 3.97, 1.43, and 2.53 μg/mL, respectively. A kinetic study revealed that compound 1 inhibited PTP1B with characteristics typical of a competitive inhibitor. Molecular docking simulations elucidated that ring B of 1 may anchor in a pocket of PTP1B and the molecule is stabilized by hydrogen bonds with Arg47, Asp48, and π–π interaction with Phe182 of PTP1B.

A new near-infrared and colorimetric fluorescent molecular probe was developed for rapid detection of H2O2. The near-infrared fluorescence OFF–ON switch is triggered by transformation of phenylboronic acid unit to phenol in the presence of H2O2. No quinone methides are released in this process, which is preferable for in vivo studies. In addition, probe 1 at low concentration exhibits high quality optical imaging during a short period in in vitro cell study.

Three unprecedented phloroglucinol-diterpene adducts, chlorabietols A–C (1–3), were isolated from the roots of the rare Chloranthaceae plant Chloranthus oldhamii. They represent a new class of compounds, featuring an abietane-type diterpenoid coupled with different alkenyl phloroglucinol units by forming a 2,3-dihydrofuran ring. Their structures were elucidated by detailed spectroscopic analysis, molecular modeling studies, and electronic circular dichroism calculations. Compounds 1–3 showed inhibitory activity against protein tyrosine phosphatase 1B (PTP1B) with IC50 values of 12.6, 5.3, and 4.9 μM, respectively.

This study describes the exploitation of click chemistry in the one-step molecular engineering of an unqualified rhodamine probe, leading to its considerable functional enhancement in terms of water solubility, ion selectivity, and usefulness in detecting biological and environmental samples. A dipropargyl rhodamine dye previously identified as an unselective and poorly water-soluble mercury(II) probe was used to couple with an azido polyethylene glycol (PEG) by the Cu(I)-catalyzed azide–alkyne 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition click reaction in almost quantitative yield. The simple click-engineered rhodamine probe shows, remarkably, better water solubility and mercury(II) selectivity comparing to the raw counterpart, and can be used to sensitively image mercury ions internalized by live cells and to accurately quantify the ion spiked in river water specimens. This study provides insights into the simple functional improvement of unqualified molecular dye probes via the efficient “click engineering”.Keywords: cell imaging; click chemistry; PEG; probe; rhodamine; triazole

This study depicts the ‘click’ construction of a water-soluble galactosyl rhodamine that can selectively probe mercury ions internalized by hepatoma cells over other cancer cells.

A series of novel thiadiazole amide derivatives have been synthesized and evaluated for inhibitory activities against Cdc25B and PTP1B. Most of them showed inhibitory activities against Cdc25B (IC50 = 1.18–8.01 μg/mL) and PTP1B (IC50 = 0.85–8.75 μg/mL), respectively. Moreover, compounds 5b and 4l were most potent with IC50 values of 1.18 and 0.85 μg/mL for Cdc25B and PTP1B, respectively, compared with reference drugs Na3VO4 (IC50 = 0.93 μg/mL) and oleanolic acid (IC50 = 0.85 μg/mL). The results of selectivity experiments showed that the target compounds were selective inhibitors against PTP1B and Cdc25B. Enzyme kinetic experiments demonstrated that compound 5k was a specific inhibitor with the typical characteristics of a mixed inhibitor.A novel series of thiadiazole amide derivatives have been synthesized and evaluated for inhibitory activity against Cdc25B and PTP1B. Most of them showed inhibitory activities against Cdc25B (IC50 = 1.18–8.01 μg/mL) and PTP1B (IC50 = 0.85–8.75 μg/mL), respectively. Moreover, compounds 5b and 4l were most potent with IC50 values of 1.18 and 0.85 μg/mL, respectively, which activities are comparable with reference drugs Na3VO4 (IC50 = 0.93 μg/mL) and oleanolic acid (IC50 = 0.85 μg/mL). The results of selectivity experiments showed that the target compounds were selective inhibitors against PTP1B and Cdc25B. Enzyme kinetic experiments demonstrated that compound 5k was a specific inhibitor with the typical characteristics of a mixed inhibitor.

A series of novel non-covalent piperidine-containing dipeptidyl derivatives were designed, synthesized and evaluated as proteasome inhibitors. All target compounds were tested for their proteasome chymotrypsin-like inhibitory activities, and selected derivatives were evaluated for the anti-proliferation activities against two multiple myeloma (MM) cell lines RPMI 8226 and MM-1S. Among all of these compounds, eight exhibited significant proteasome inhibitory activities with IC50 less than 20 nM, and four are more potent than the positive control Carfilzomib. Compound 28 displayed the most potent proteasome inhibitory activity (IC50: 1.4 ± 0.1 nM) and cytotoxicities with IC50 values at 13.9 ± 1.8 nM and 9.5 ± 0.5 nM against RPMI 8226 and MM-1S, respectively. Additionally, the ex vivo blood cell proteasome inhibitory activities of compounds 24 and 27–29 demonstrated that the enzymatic metabolism in the whole blood could be well tolerated. All these experiments confirmed that the piperidine-containing non-covalent proteasome inhibitors are potential leads for exploring new anti-cancer drugs.

Small-molecular probes capable of monitoring and interfering with the activity of biomacromolecules – such as polysaccharides, nucleotides and proteins – are of paramount importance to the advancement of life science. However, such probes that can detect and simultaneously modulate the construction of biomacromolecules are elusive. Here we report a fluorogenic, foldable glycoprobe that can recognize and assemble a protein receptor in a synchronous fashion. The glycoprobe synthesized by introducing a glycoligand (for protein recognition) to a bola-type bis-fluorophore conjugate shows a “self-shielded” fluorescence in the folded state. Association with a receptor protein rapidly unfolds the probe, releasing a fluorophore capable of crosslinking the proteins – as determined using small-angle X-ray scattering – thereby producing a unique fluorescent supramolecular construct. We have demonstrated the use of the foldable glycoprobe in order to track the endocytic cycle of a transmembrane receptor.

The synthesis of a series of new N-oxyamide-linked glycoglycerolipids and their assembly with gold nanoparticles for receptor-targeting imaging and drug delivery are reported.

We have developed a galactosyl azidonaphthalimide probe for the selective fluorogenic imaging of hepatocellular H2S, an important gaseous transmitter produced in the liver.

With this research we demonstrate that glycosylation of a naphthalimide zinc ion probe, using click chemistry, leads to an improvement of the aqueous sensitivity, working pH range and targeting ability for specific cells, together with significantly reduced cytotoxicity.

We have developed a theranostic nanocomposite of metallic nanoparticles that uses two distinct fluorescence mechanisms: Förster Resonance Energy Transfer (FRET) and Metal-Enhanced Fluorescence (MEF) controlled by ligand–receptor interaction. Supramolecular assembly of the fluorophore-labeled glycoligands to cyclodextrin-capped gold nanoparticles produces a nanocomposite with a quenched fluorescence due to FRET from the fluorophore to the proximal particle. Subsequently, interaction with a selective protein receptor leads to an aggregation of the composite, reactivating the fluorescence by MEF from the distal metallic particles to fluorophores encapsulated in the aggregates. The aggregation also causes a red-shift in absorbance of the composite, thereby enhancing the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) on red-light irradiation. Our nanocomposite has proven suitable for targeted cancer cell imaging as well as multimode therapy using both the photodynamic and drug delivery properties of the composite.

Construction of composite materials based on the self-assembly of fluorescently labeled biomolecules with a variety of micro- or nano-quenching materials (by the Förster Resonance Energy Transfer mechanism) for the fluorogenic recognition of disease-related proteins has become a dynamic research topic in the field of fluorescence recognition. Here we summarize the recent progress on the composition of fluorescence dye-labeled biomolecules including sugars, peptides and nucleotides with organic (graphene and carbon nanotubes) and inorganic (gold nanoparticles) materials. Their application in the fluorescence detection of proteins and enzymes on both the molecular and cellular levels is discussed. Perspectives are proposed with respect to the future directions of employing these composite materials in the recognition of pathological proteins.

Expression of specific transmembrane receptors by cells frequently represents an important signature of diseases, but this dynamic event can hardly be monitored directly with live cells due to the limitation of current biochemical techniques. Here we develop a pyrenyl glycoanthraquinone construct that can be firmly immobilized on a graphene-spotted screen printed electrode via strong π-interactions. The inherent current signal produced by the surface-confined glycoquinone can be used to detect selective sugar–protein recognitions with simple electrochemical techniques and portable facilities. Importantly, we demonstrate that the level of pathogenic receptors expressed by different types of live cells can be tracked with the electrode system in a label-free manner, providing a useful tool for the on-demand disease diagnosis as well as basic biochemical studies.

Correction for ‘Glycosylation enhances the aqueous sensitivity and lowers the cytotoxicity of a naphthalimide zinc ion fluorescence probe’ by Lei Dong et al., Chem. Commun., 2015, DOI: 10.1039/c5cc04357c.

This study depicts the ‘click’ construction of a water-soluble galactosyl rhodamine that can selectively probe mercury ions internalized by hepatoma cells over other cancer cells.

We report an interlocked supramolecular ensemble formed between a conjugated polymer (CP) and a fluorescent glycoprobe for receptor-targeting cancer cell theranostics.

Here we show that graphene oxide greatly enhances the imaging ability of a peptide probe that selectively targets microtubules of the cytoskeleton, thus enabling the dynamic tracking of mitosis in live cells.

The development of small-molecule fluorescent probes for the detection of ions and biomacromolecules and for cellular and in vivo imaging has been a very active research area. Nevertheless, many problems exist for traditional probes including their poor water solubility, toxicity and the inability to target specific tissues. Because of the enhanced water solubility, biocompatibility and targeting ability for specific cells, there has been an emerging movement to use carbohydrates as either the backbone or as a warhead to decorate conventional fluorescent probes, producing “glycoprobes” with enhanced properties. This feature article provides an overview of recently developed glycoprobes for ion and protein detection as well as targeted (receptor targeting) cellular imaging and theranostics. Here, we summarise the tactics for preparing small molecular glycoprobes and their supramolecular 2D material composites.

Here we demonstrate that 2D MoS2 can enhance the receptor-targeting and imaging ability of a fluorophore-labelled ligand. The 2D MoS2 has an enhanced working concentration range when compared with graphene oxide, resulting in the improved imaging of both cell and tissue samples.