LacCC

LacCC is a glutathione (GSH)-activatable fluorescent bioprobe designed for the sensitive detection of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) circulating tumor cells (CTCs) in peripheral blood. The probe is synthesized by coordinating copper ions (Cu2+) to a lactose-modified coumarin derivative (LacC), which quenches the initial fluorescence. LacCC achieves selective targeting of HCC cells through carbohydrate-protein interactions between its lactose moiety and asialoglycoprotein receptors (ASGPRs), which are overexpressed on the HCC cell membrane. Upon internalization into the cells, the high intracellular concentration of GSH triggers a demetallation reaction, releasing the copper ions and rapidly restoring the fluorescence of the coumarin derivative. This mechanism allows for the identification and quantitative detection of rare HCC-CTCs in blood samples, facilitating early diagnosis, monitoring of metastasis, and prognosis of hepatocellular carcinoma.

Other names

LacC-Cu2+lactose-modified coumarin-copper complexGSH-activatable bioprobe LacCC