A redox-responsive folate–fluorophore conjugate as a new target-cell-specific imaging probe

Abstract

Here we have developed a redox-responsive folate–fluorophore conjugate (RFC) with a disulfide linker for the target-specific imaging of cancers. The quenched fluorescence of the RFC could be turned on after folate receptor-mediated endocytosis and subsequent cleavage of the disulfide linker by intracellular glutathione, enabling target-cell-specific fluorescence imaging with a high target-to-background ratio.