Cycling hypoxia has been recognized as a typical characteristic of a wide range of
hepatic diseases, and its real time imaging is of necessity for better understanding
of its biological functions. However, effective optical probes for reversible hypoxia
detection in liver are lacking. Herein, we designed a near-infrared fluorescence/photoacoustic
(NIRF/PA) probe,
AzoCys-CF3, that displayed a highly selective and reversible off-on switching of both NIRF and
PA signals in response to normoxia-hypoxia cycles.
AzoCys-CF3 could not only monitor the acute hypoxia status during the hepatic ischemia-reperfusion
process, but also track the extent of chronic hepatic hypoxia in NAFLD model mice.
Antioxidant drug screening by
AzoCys-CF3 demonstrated that the hepatoprotective drug orlistat significantly attenuated hypoxia
in the livers of NAFLD mice. This work provided a reliable NIRF/PA imaging agent for
in vivo monitoring of cycling hypoxia, showing potential application in screening drugs for
hepatic diseases.
