Wu_2021_Angew.Chem.Int.Ed.Engl__

Selective fluorescence imaging of biomarker in vivo and in situ for evaluating orthotopic hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) chemotherapy remains a great challenge due to current imaging agents suffering from the potential interferences of other hydrolases. Herein, we observed that carbamate unit showed a high selectivity toward HCC-related biomarker (carboxylesterase, CE) for evaluation of treatment. A near-infrared two-photon fluorescent probe was developed to not only specially image CE activity in vivo and in situ but also target orthotopic liver tumor after systemic administration. In vivo signals of probe correlating well with tumor apoptosis make it possible to evaluate the status of treatment. Excellent property of probe enables the first imaging of CE activity in situ with high resolution three-dimensional view. This study may promote advancements in optical imaging approach for precise imaging-guided diagnosis of HCC in situ and its evaluation of treatment.