Research progress of small molecule fluorescent probes for liver cancer related enzymes

Early and accurate diagnosis is crucial for effective cancer treatment, and enzymes are considered significant indicators for early cancer diagnosis. In liver cancer, enzymes such as leucine aminopeptidase (LAP), γ-Glutamyl transpeptidase (GGT), and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) are often overexpressed, and their abnormal levels can be detected. Fluorescence analysis has emerged as a powerful technology for real-time testing and imaging of enzyme activity in biological systems. Therefore, the development of small molecule fluorescent probes for detecting these liver cancer-related enzymes in vivo and vitro is essential for early diagnosis and treatment. This review paper discusses recent research progress in the detection of LAP, GGT, and ALP by fluorescence imaging, including their design strategy, sensing mechanism, and application in in vivo and in vitro testing and imaging. The advantages and disadvantages of various fluorescent probes are compared, and their future development trends are discussed. The aim of this paper is to provide insights and opinions for future research in this area.