A dual-channel lipid droplet-targeting probe for the detection of polarity and HOCl in models of NAFLD, inflammation, and cancer.

Abnormal lipid droplet accumulation and metabolism can precipitate various diseases. Understanding the dynamics of intracellular lipid droplets, particularly hypochlorite acid (HOCl) and polarity, is crucial for elucidating the onset and progression of these diseases. In this study, we synthesized a near-infrared fluorescent probe, NSSP, featuring a D-π-A structure, which facilitates the independent dual-response detection of HOCl and polarity. NSSP not only reveals the polarity and HOCl fluctuations in inflammatory cells and inflammation in live mice but also differentiates between normal and fatty liver tissues through two distinct channels. Furthermore, the probe has proven effective in identifying neoplasms within live murine models at both the cellular and systemic levels, thereby affirming its utility as an instrumental resource for the precocious detection of carcinomas. This offers a hopeful avenue for the diagnostic scrutiny of pathologies.