ATP and reactive oxygen species (ROS) are considered
significant
indicators of cell apoptosis. However, visualizing the interplay between
apoptosis-related ATP and ROS is challenging. Herein, we developed
a metal–organic framework (MOF)-based nanoprobe for an apoptosis
assay using duplex imaging of cellular ATP and ROS. The nanoprobe
was fabricated through controlled encapsulation of gold nanorods with
a thin zirconium-based MOF layer, followed by modification of the
ROS-responsive molecules 2-mercaptohydroquinone and 6-carboxyfluorescein-labeled
ATP aptamer. The nanoprobe enables ATP and ROS visualization via fluorescence
and surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy, respectively, avoiding the
mutual interference that often occurs in single-mode methods. Moreover,
the dual-modal assay effectively showed dynamic imaging of ATP and
ROS in cancer cells treated with various drugs, revealing their apoptosis-related
pathways and interactions that differ from those under normal conditions.
This study provides a method for studying the relationship between
energy metabolism and redox homeostasis in cell apoptosis processes