Recent Advances in Molecular Fluorescent Probes for CYP450 Sensing and Imaging

Abstract

Cytochrome P450 (CYP450) is a major drug-metabolizing enzyme system mainly distributed in liver microsomes and involved in the metabolism of many endogenous substances (such as fatty acids and arachidonic acids), and exogenous compounds (such as drugs, toxicants, carcinogens, and procarcinogens). Due to the similarity in structures and catalytic functions between CYP450 isoforms, the lack of effective selective detection tools greatly limits the understanding and the research of their respective physiological roles in living organisms. Until now, several small-molecular fluorescent probes have been employed for selective detection and monitoring of CYP450s (Cytochrome P450 enzymes) in vitro or in vivo owing to the tailored properties, biodegradability, and high temporal and spatial resolution imaging in situ. In this review, we summarize the recent advances in fluorescent probes for CYP450s (including CYP1, CYP2, and CYP3 families), and we discuss and focus on their identification mechanisms, general probe design strategies, and bioimaging applications. We also highlight the potential challenges and prospects of designing new generations of fluorescent probes in CYP450 studies, which will further enhance the diversity, practicality, and clinical feasibility of research into CYP450.