Molecularly Engineered Phenoxazinone-Skeleton Cascade-Activated NIR Probes for Monitoring Fe²⁺/Viscosity in Ferroptosis-Mediated Parkinson's Disease.

Parkinson's disease (PD) is the second most common neurodegenerative disease, in which ferroptosis may be the crucial event leading to dopaminergic neuron death. Accumulated ferrous ions (Fe²⁺) and increased intracellular viscosity promote of ferroptosis. Precisely monitoring Fe²⁺/Viscosity, especially in ferroptosis, is crucial for PD theranostic. However, a feasible strategy is lacking. In this study, series of Fe²⁺/Viscosity cascade-activated near-infrared fluorescence probes (NP1-5) are synthesized. Through optical characterization and theoretical calculations, NP3 is selected as the optimal probe to monitor Fe² ⁺/Viscosity via redox reactions and twisted intramolecular charge transfer processes. To verify this concept in the context of ferroptosis intervention in PD, an innovative nanoplatform is constructed based on NP3 and quercetin, modified with rabies virus glycoprotein-29 and defined as PQR nanoparticles (PQR NPs). In vitro and in vivo experiments demonstrate that PQR NPs not only alleviate ferroptosis-induced loss of dopaminergic neurons by reducing oxidative stress and neuroinflammation, mitigating α-synuclein aggregation, and restoring mitochondrial function, but also could monitor the elevated Fe² ⁺/Viscosity in ferroptosis of PD models. Present study developed a facile tool for monitoring Fe²⁺/Viscosity in ferroptosis. The findings have strong application potential in theranostics of PD and other ferroptosis related diseases.