Professor Qingqing Miao’s research group at Soochow University recently published an important study in ACS Materials Letters, successfully developed a sequentially dual-targeted molecular theranostic probe (¹⁷⁷Lu-P-M) for the combined application of targeted radionuclide therapy and anti-hypoxic photodynamic therapy against prostate cancer. The study designed a multifunctional small-molecule probe integrating monoamine oxidase A (MAO-A)-responsive activation, turn-on near-infrared fluorescence/photoacoustic signals, superoxide anion radical generation, and ¹⁷⁷Lu-labeled targeted radiotherapy, providing a new approach to the precise diagnosis and synergistic therapy of prostate cancer.
High-purity probes are essential for subsequent in vitro enzyme activity assays, cellular uptake imaging, in vivo near-infrared fluorescence/photoacoustic imaging, and evaluation of synergistic therapeutic efficacy. In this study, P-M was obtained through multi-step organic synthesis and copper-catalyzed click chemistry. With a final molecular weight of 1852.7 Da and a complex structure containing bromine and chlorine substituents, the probe imposed high demands on separation and purification.
To address this challenge, the research team employed the Elite EClassical P3500 preparative HPLC system, equipped with a UV3100 UV-Vis detector, for the preparative purification of probe P-M, intermediate E, and the control compound Cy-MAO. Paired with the high-sensitivity UV3100 detector, the system effectively separated structurally similar organic small-molecule products, ensuring high purity (>95%) of the target compounds and providing high-quality research samples for subsequent biological evaluation.
The P3500 HPLC System offers a wide flow rate range of 0.01–100.00 mL/min and high-precision gradient elution capability. Its stable solvent delivery performance and precise gradient control enabled efficient separation of the target products from unreacted starting materials and by-products. The purity of all final products was further verified by analytical HPLC from Waters. This complementary workflow between preparative and analytical HPLC established a reliable sample-quality foundation for the subsequent in vitro and in vivo studies.
Further Reading-
“Preparative liquid chromatography is a purification tool widely used in laboratories and industrial production, with applications in pharmaceutical R&D, natural product extraction, biologics purification, and other fields. By efficiently separating target components from mixtures, it helps researchers obtain high-purity substances, providing reliable support for subsequent research and applications.“ - Learn more about the principles, classifications, and applications of Preparative LC →
Title: Sequentially Dual-Targeted Molecular Theranostic Probe for Radionuclide and Anti-Hypoxic Activatable Photodynamic Therapy of Cancer
Journal: ACS Materials Letters, 2024, 6, 5179–5189
