Targeted copper supplementation oriented theranostic for fluorescence and 19F NMR detection of tumors

Abstract

Alteration of the levels of copper is a promising approach for cancer therapy. Herein, we develop a dual-mode copper vehicle, M985. The biotin-tailed M985 can exert tumor-directed copper supplementation and undergo self-immolative cleavage in living cancerous cells, resulting in the liberation of F₅₄₂ along with the generation of excess reactive oxygen species. Thus, fluorescence and ¹⁹F NMR detection is realized to specifically discriminate cancer cells. F₅₄₂ acts as a fluorescence reporter and a potent cytotoxic agent, facilitating the visualization of molecular release and distribution, as well as confirming the ER autophagy-induced apoptosis. Therefore, we present a promising dual-mode theranostic M985 for the efficient detection and therapy of cancer.