Activatable Photoacoustic/Near-Infrared\nProbes for\nthe Detection of Copper Ions of Cardiovascular Disease In Vivo and\nin Urine

Copper ions, implicated in processes such as oxidative\nstress and\ninflammation, are believed to play a crucial role in cardiovascular\ndisease, a prevalent and deadly disease. Despite this, current diagnostic\nmethods fail to detect early stage cardiovascular disease or track\ncopper ion accumulation, limiting our understanding of the disease’s\nprogression. Therefore, the development of noninvasive techniques\nto image copper ions in cardiovascular disease is urgently needed\nto enhance diagnostic precision and therapeutic strategies. In this\nstudy, we report the successful synthesis and application of a copper\nion-activated photoacoustic probe, <b>CS-Cu</b>, which exhibits\nhigh sensitivity and selectivity toward copper ions both in vitro\nand in vivo. <b>CS-Cu</b> was able to noninvasively monitor\nthe changes in copper ion levels and differentiate between different\nmice based on copper ions in urine. Furthermore, the probe demonstrated\ngood photoacoustic stability and exhibited no significant toxicity\nin the mice. These findings suggest that <b>CS-Cu</b> could\nbe a promising tool for early detection and monitoring of Cu<sup>2+</sup> levels in vivo and urine, providing a new perspective on the role\nof copper ions in cardiovascular disease.