Chemiluminescent and antioxidant micelles as theranostic agents for hydrogen peroxide associated-inflammatory diseases

Hydrogen peroxide (H ₂O ₂) is one of essential oxygen metabolites in living organisms, but is generated in large amounts during inflammatory responses. Therefore, H ₂O ₂ has great potential as diagnostic and therapeutic markers of several inflammatory and life-threatening diseases. Here, chemiluminescent and antioxidant micelles are reported as novel theranostic agents for H ₂O ₂-associated inflammatory diseases. The chemiluminescent micelles composed of amphiphilic block copolymer Pluronic F-127, hydroxybenzyl alcohol-incorporated copolyoxalate (HPOX) and fluorescent dyes perform peroxalate chemiluminescence reactions to detect H ₂O ₂ as low as 100 nM and image H ₂O ₂ generated in inflamed mouse ankles. The micelles encapsulating HPOX reduce the generation of reactive oxygen species in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-activated macrophages by scavenging overproduced H ₂O ₂ and releasing antioxidant hydroxybenzyl alcohol (HBA). They also exert inhibitory effects on H ₂O ₂-induced apoptosis. HPOX-based chemiluminescent and antioxidant micelles have great potential as a theranostic agent for H ₂O ₂-associated inflammatory diseases. Hydrogen peroxide is generated in large amounts during inflammatory responses and therefore has great potential as a diagnostic and therapeutic marker. Chemiluminescent and antioxidant micelles are developed as novel theranostic agents for hydrogen peroxide-associated inflammatory diseases. The micelles are capable of imaging hydrogen peroxide that is endogenously generated in the lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated ankle of mice. They also exert potent antioxidant and anti-apoptotic activity.