小鼠活体脑部生物活性分子的荧光成像研究进展

Recent Advances in Fluorescence Imaging of Bioactive Molecules in Neurons and in Vivo

大脑在分子水平上具有独特的化学组成和反应活性。脑部的生物活性分子(包括金属离子,活性氧物种,神经递质及神经递质水解酶等)在脑功能的行使过程中,扮演着不同却又极其关键的角色。正常稳态浓度的生物活性分子对维持稳定的脑部和功能发挥了重要作用,而生物活性分子水平的异常变化又与帕金森病、阿尔兹海默症、抑郁症等多种脑部疾病的发生与发展密切相关。因此探究大脑中生物活性分子的浓度及调控作用,对揭示大脑的奥秘、理解脑部疾病的发生和发展具有重要作用。荧光成像方法具有高灵敏、高时空分辨、易操作等优势,是探究大脑中生物活性分子的真实浓度和功能的重要工具。近年来,随着荧光成像技术的发展,研究者构建了多种荧光探针用于检测鼠脑中生物活性分子。本文综述了近年来用于大脑中生物活性分子检测的分子探针、纳米探针及蛋白探针的发展概况,探讨了构建新型荧光探针、利用荧光成像方法进一步深入剖析生物活性分子调控大脑功能等方面的研究,对未来的发展进行了展望。

Brain possesses a unique chemical composition and reactivity.Bioactive molecules in brains including metal ions,reactive oxygen species,neurotransmitters and neurotransmitter hydrolases play multifarious and pivotal roles in the function of brain.These molecules keep steady-state concentrations for maintaining the structure and function of brain.However,the abnormal changes at bioactive molecular levels are associated with various brain diseases such as Parkinson’s disease,Alzheimer’s disease,depression,and so on.Therefore,to explore the concentration and regulation of those molecules in brains is particularly essential for revealing the mysteries of brains and understanding the occurrence and development of brain diseases.Fluorescence imaging is a powerful tool to track bioactive molecules in neurons and in brain because of its remarkable advantages,such as high temporal-spatial resolution,excellent biocompatibility and high sensitivity.In recent years,with the development of fluorescence imaging technology,a variety of fluorescent probes for brain and neurons imaging have been reported.In this review,we summarized the progress of molecular probes,nanoprobes and protein probes for detection of bioactive molecules in neurons and in brain.Furthermore,future research for fluorescence imaging was prospected.