Ibuprofen-Derived Fluorescence Inhibitor of COX-2 for Breast Cancer Imaging, Prevention and Treatment

Abstract The integration of precise detection, long-term prevention and effective treatment are beneficial to monitor cancer bioactivity and prevent malignant metastasis for breast cancer patients. Herein, a novel fluorescence probe (IBLN) is designed and synthesized which contains a fluorophore (naphthalimide), a linker and a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (ibuprofen). The specific optical imaging, prevention and treatment effects of breast cancer are relied on the introduction of a powerful cyclooxygenase-2-specific inhibitor, ibuprofen, which makes IBLN possible to successfully differentiate breast cancer cells from normal cells. In addition, fluorescent cellular imaging agent naphthalimide also has anticancer effects via inducing lysosomal membrane permeabilization (LMP). The multi-functional ibuprofen-derived fluorescence inhibitor IBLN realizes the imaging, prevention and treatment for breast cancer, which the selectivity and anticancer effects would be strengthened compared to the single naphthalimide or ibuprofen. Therefore, we envisage that the multi-function strategy in IBLN would be attractive way to explore potential reagent for fluorescence-visible breast cancer therapy in situ.