https://scholar.korea.ac.kr/handle/2021.sw.korea/329 Wed, 08 Apr 2026 23:01:58 GMT 2026-04-08T23:01:58Z https://scholar.korea.ac.kr/handle/2021.sw.korea/271438 Title: Tailoring fluorescent probes for detecting COVID-19 virus in bio-samples and in vivo Authors: Gong, Jiankang; Wang, Xiaoyu; Rha, Hyeonji; Hong, Seokjin; Wu, Jiao; Zhang, Fan; Mao, Zhiqiang; Kim, Jong Seung Abstract: The COVID-19 outbreak, caused by the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus, has led to a global health crisis. The expeditious and dependable detection of SARS-CoV-2 is imperative for the efficacious control and management of the pandemic. Nevertheless, methods currently leveraged in clinical cases encounter notable challenges, encompassing elevated costs, protracted detection time, and vulnerability to false-positive outcomes, impeding the overall detection effectiveness. By comparison, fluorescent probes have become a promising tool in the diagnosis and monitoring of COVID-19 due to their high sensitivity, specificity, and real-time imaging capabilities. However, currently, there is no comprehensive review to expound upon the potential of fabricating fluorescent probes for COVID-19 detection. Under this objective, this review summarizes the applications of fluorescent probes in COVID-19 detection over the past three years. According to different detection targets, these probes are roughly divided into four categories: main protease, spike protein, nucleocapsid protein, and RNAs, and their response principles are well-described. Moreover, recent advancements in fluorescent probes for SARS-CoV-2 detection and their potential for clinical applications are also discussed. Overall, fluorescent probe-based detection technology presents promising prospects in the field of COVID-19 research, offering in-depth insights into the pathogenesis and facilitating the development of diagnostic tools and therapeutic strategies. © 2025 Elsevier B.V. Wed, 15 Oct 2025 00:00:00 GMT https://scholar.korea.ac.kr/handle/2021.sw.korea/271438 2025-10-15T00:00:00Z https://scholar.korea.ac.kr/handle/2021.sw.korea/267922 Title: Reprogrammed glycolysis-induced augmentation of NIR-II excited photodynamic/photothermal therapy Authors: Xiang, Chunbai; Ding, Qihang; Jiang, Ting; Liu, Yu; Li, Chao; Yang, Xing; Jia, Jia; Xiang, Jingjing; Wang, Yue; Zhou, Hui; Lu, Zhiyun; Gong, Ping; Kim, Jong Seung Abstract: Small molecule-based multifunctional optical diagnostic materials have garnered considerable interest due to their highly customizable structures, tunable excited-state properties, and remarkable biocompatibility. We herein report the synthesis of a multifaceted photosensitizer, PPQ-CTPA, which exhibits exceptional efficacy in generating Type I reactive oxygen species (ROS) and thermal energy under near-infrared-II (NIR-II, >1000 nm) laser excitation at 1064 nm, thereby combining photodynamic therapy (PDT) and photothermal therapy (PTT) functionalities. To enhance therapeutic efficacy, we engineered lonidamine (LND) by conjugating it with triphenylphosphonium (TPP) cations, producing LND-TPP. This compound inhibits mitochondrial glycolysis and downregulates heat shock protein 90 (HSP 90) levels in a breast cancer mouse model, potentiating both PDT and PTT. For in vivo applications, PPQ-CTPA and LND-TPP are encapsulated within the amphiphilic polymer DSPE-SS-PEG to obtain PPQ-CTPAL NPs. In breast cancer cell lines, PPQ-CTPAL NPs are decomposed by cellular GSH, simultaneously releasing the dual-functioning photosensitizer PPQ-CTPL and the mitochondriadisrupting agent LND-TPP. Upon 1064 nm laser irradiation, we found that tumor growth in breast cancer mice is effectively restrained by PPQ-CTPAL NPs. This work highlights the synergistic integration of PDT, PTT, and chemotherapy facilitated by NIR-II fluorescence, photoacoustic, and photothermal imaging under 1064 nm irradiation, underscoring the clinical potential of multifunctional phototherapeutic agents. Mon, 01 Sep 2025 00:00:00 GMT https://scholar.korea.ac.kr/handle/2021.sw.korea/267922 2025-09-01T00:00:00Z https://scholar.korea.ac.kr/handle/2021.sw.korea/268993 Title: Top-down bioinspired nanotheranostics with AIE luminogens Authors: Xu, Xiaoyu; Chen, Luojia; Yang, Liupiaopiao; Li, Baoping; Kim, Yujin; Yoon, Changyu; Yoo, Jiyoung; Wang, Lianrong; Chen, Shi; Gu, Meijia; Kim, Jong Seung Abstract: The advances in nanotechnology have been coupled with a growing interest in and extensive research on nanodrug delivery systems (NDDS). NDDS represent a revolutionary approach to therapeutic delivery at the molecular level. Notwithstanding the research efforts and potential preclinical results, few NDDS have successfully transitioned to clinical applications. A major obstacle in this translation process with the “bottom-up” NDDS strategy is the severe protein crown effect. Herein, proteins in the biological environment form a corona around the outer shell of NDDS, thereby preventing rationally designed NDDS from achieving their expected targeting capabilities and causing off-target effects that compromise the therapeutic efficacy. To circumvent this, the innovative concept of bionic nano-based drug delivery systems (BNDDS) is investigated extensively as a “top-down” concept that leverages bacteria, exosomes, viruses, cell membranes, and cellular organelles as delivery cargo. BNDDS demonstrate superior cell targetability, stability, and immune response during drug delivery. These have potential clinical applications when combined with aggregation-induced emission (AIE) fluorophores, which have exceptional controllability, negligible toxicity, and remarkable photostability. Therefore, we present a comprehensive overview of various engineering approaches for “top-down”-based AIE-functionalized BNDDS, enable to provide long-term imaging capabilities and sustained therapeutic effects crucial for accurate diagnosis and effective treatment protocols. © 2025 Elsevier B.V. Fri, 15 Aug 2025 00:00:00 GMT https://scholar.korea.ac.kr/handle/2021.sw.korea/268993 2025-08-15T00:00:00Z https://scholar.korea.ac.kr/handle/2021.sw.korea/268995 Title: Regulated cell death mechanisms in mitochondria-targeted phototherapy Authors: Ding, Qihang; Rha, Hyeonji; Yoon, Changyu; Kim, Yujin; Hong, So Jin; Kim, Hui Ju; Li, Yang; Lee, Min Hee; Kim, Jong Seung Abstract: Phototherapy, comprising photodynamic therapy (PDT) and photothermal therapy (PTT), was first introduced over a century ago and has since evolved into a versatile cancer treatment modality. While numerous studies have explored regulated cell death (RCD) mechanisms induced by phototherapy, a comprehensive synthesis centered on mitochondria-targeted phototherapeutic strategies and agents as mediators of RCD is still lacking. This review provides a systematic and in-depth analysis of recent advances in mitochondria-centered mechanisms driving phototherapy-induced death pathways, including apoptosis, autophagy, pyroptosis, immunogenic cell death, ferroptosis, and cuproptosis. We highlight the critical role of mitochondria as central regulators of these death pathways in response to phototherapeutic interventions. Moreover, we discuss fundamental design strategies for developing precision-targeted phototherapeutic materials to enhance efficacy and minimize off-target effects. Finally, we identify prevailing challenges and propose future research directions to address these hurdles, paving the way for next-generation mitochondria-targeted phototherapy as a highly effective strategy for cancer management. © 2025 Elsevier B.V. Tue, 10 Jun 2025 00:00:00 GMT https://scholar.korea.ac.kr/handle/2021.sw.korea/268995 2025-06-10T00:00:00Z