The fluorescent probe detects cardiovascular diseases in the early stages

Atherosclerosis, which is accompanied by the accumulation of deposits in the form of plaques, and concomitant heart diseases and

blood vessels remain one of the main causes of deathpeople in most countries of the world, according to WHO statistics. As a rule, the development of the disease begins with the accumulation of cholesterol on the walls of blood vessels. Over time, this leads to their thickening, accumulation of calcium and loss of flexibility.

Accumulation of deposits in arteries is keya factor in the development of cardiovascular diseases and in particular stroke, which, in turn, is the main cause of death in the West. One of the ways in which the condition can endanger a person's health is by actually pulling off the plaque from the walls of the artery, causing thromboembolism. As a result, blood flow is disrupted, leading to chronic illness or stroke.

Scientists at Imperial College London have createda luminous probe that reacts to heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1). This enzyme is produced in large quantities as atherosclerosis progresses. The probe consists of two compartments that transfer fluorescent molecules between each other - one component is "donor" and the other is "acceptor".

Let us recall that donor-acceptor interaction is a charge transfer between donor and acceptor molecules without the formation of a chemical bond between them (exchange mechanism).

When the probe comes into contact with HO-1, the enzymebreaks the connection connecting these two compartments. As a result, fluorescent molecules accumulate in the donor compartment. This means the probe glows six times brighter in the presence of HO-1. Laboratory research using modified cellsE. Coli confirmed the operability of the probe and the entire system as a whole. At the same time, scientists detected a change in fluorescence using simple spectroscopy.

Modern IPH detection methods are based onimaging techniques in hospitals, which are time-consuming and costly, explain the authors of the development. The use of the new test will speed up treatment and improve outcomes for patients with atherosclerosis. The probes will also provide real-time analysis of the main biological processes involved in vascular disease.

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