Chemiluminescent and Antioxidant Micelles as Theranostic Agents for Hydrogen Peroxide Associated-Inflammatory Diseases

Hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) is one of essential oxygen metabolites in living organisms, but is generated in large amounts during inflammatory responses. Therefore, H2O2 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 H2O2-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 H2O2 as low as 100 nM and image H2O2 generated in inflamed mouse ankles. The micelles encapsulating HPOX reduce the generation of reactive oxygen species in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-activated macrophages by scavenging overproduced H2O2 and releasing antioxidant hydroxybenzyl alcohol (HBA). They also exert inhibitory effects on H2O2-induced apoptosis. HPOX-based chemiluminescent and antioxidant micelles have great potential as a theranostic agent for H2O2-associated inflammatory diseases.