A novel near-infrared fluorescent probe for monitoring cyclooxygenase-2 in inflammation and tumor

Targeting cyclooxygenase‐2 (COX‐2) for molecular imaging is an attractive approach applicable for its overexpression in inflammation and many malignancies. Herein, for monitoring COX‐2, we synthesize a specific COX‐2 probe celecoxib‐MPA probe (CMP), based on celecoxib and a water‐soluble near‐infrared dye dye ICG‐Der‐02 (MPA). Its high affinity for binding to COX‐2 is verified by molecular docking, dynamics simulation and inhibition assay. At...