Activatable fluorescent ratiometric probes for early diagnosis and prognostic assessment of acute kidney injury
2025-10-22
Early and accurate diagnosis of acute kidney injury (AKI) is crucial for clinical treatment. However, most existing fluorescent probes are prone to background interference and limited renal targeting. We developed a ratiometric nanoprobe (RP-SC) that synergistically responded to H 2 O 2 and targeted kidney injury molecule-1 (KIM-1). In AKI kidneys, RP-SC was hydrolyzed and slowly released encapsulated Hcy-BOH and Cy-Dopa. The H 2 O 2 level was semi-quantitatively analyzed by fluorescence ratio ( F Hcy-BOH / F Cy-Dopa ). RP-SC exhibited prominent renal fluorescence in AKI mice, making it possible to accurately diagnose AKI and dynamically monitor renal function for up to 60 hours. RP-SC could monitor the process of AKI in vivo and provide an earlier warning of AKI than traditional strategies, subsequently evaluating the recovery of renal function after N -acetyl cysteine (NAC) treatment. Our study confirmed the ability of RP-SC for longitudinal monitoring of renal function in vivo by dual-targeting capacity, providing an effective tool for accurate diagnosis of early AKI while tracking the dynamic process of AKI treatment.