Abstract
The insistent demand for space-controllable delivery, which reduces the side effects of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), has led to the development of a new theranostics-based approach for anti-inflammatory therapy. The current anti-inflammatory treatments can be improved by designing a drug delivery system responsive to the inflammatory site biomarker, hydrogen polysulfide (H2Sn). Here, we report a novel theranostic agent 1 (TA1), consisting of three parts: H2Sn-mediated triggering part, a two-photon fluorophore bearing mitochondria targeting unit (Rhodol-TPP), and anti-inflammatory COX inhibitor (indomethacin). In vitro experiments showed that TA1 selectively reacts with H2Sn to concomitantly release both Rhodol-TPP and indomethacin. Confocal-microscopy imaging of inflammation-induced live cells suggested that TA1 is localized in the mitochondria where the H2Sn is overexpressed. The TA1 reacted with H2Sn in the endogenous and exogenous H2Sn environments and in lipopolysaccharide treated inflammatory cells. Moreover, TA1 suppressed COX-2 level in the inflammatory-induced cells and prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) level in blood serum from inflammation-induced mouse models. In vivo experiments with inflammation-induced mouse models suggested that TA1 exhibits inflammation-site-elective drug release followed by significant therapeutic effects, showing its function as a theranostic agent, capable of both anti-inflammatory therapy and precise diagnosis. Theranostic behavior of TA1 is highly applicable in vivo model therapeutics for the inflammatory disease.