Hex-Activatable Phototheranostic Probe

Tumor-specific activation

A NIR probe activated by β-N-acetylhexosaminidase overexpressed in colorectal cancer for tumor-specific fluorescence imaging and photodynamic therapy while sparing healthy tissue.

Yongchang, Qiao · Ma, Zhiyuan · He, Maomao · Xi, Dongmei · Zhao, Xin · Gao, Yan · Fan, Jiangli · Sun, Wen · Peng, Xiaojun

Advanced healthcare materials 2026

Specifications

Microtumor detection size

{'zh': '1', 'en': '1'} mm

Advantages

Tumor-only activation

Activated solely by β-N-acetylhexosaminidase overexpressed in colorectal cancer cells, sparing healthy tissues from photodamage.

Detects microtumors

Enables real-time detection of microtumors for surgical navigation.

Minimal dark toxicity

Exhibits minimal toxicity in the dark, ensuring safety when light is not applied.

Applications

• Photodynamic therapy for colorectal cancer：Enable image-guided photodynamic therapy to avoid collateral damage.
• Fluorescence-guided surgery：Illuminate microtumors in real time for complete resection.
• Tumor microenvironment-responsive probes：Use overexpressed Hex as a switch for tumor-specific activation.