Recent advances in NAD(P)H-related fluorescent probes and photocatalytic therapy: from monitoring to regulation

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

11-15-2026

Department

Department of Chemistry

Abstract

Reduced nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NADH) and its phosphorylated form (NADPH) are indispensable redox cofactors that regulate cellular metabolism, redox homeostasis, and disease progression. Fluorescent probes targeting NAD(P)H have emerged as powerful tools for real-time, high-resolution monitoring, offering significant potential for disease diagnosis and mechanistic studies. Concurrently, emerging photodynamic therapeutic strategies that exploit NADH consumption provide innovative solutions to overcome hypoxia-associated limitations in conventional photodynamic therapy. This review provides a comprehensive overview of recent advances in NAD(P)H-responsive fluorescent probes and NADH-mediated photodynamic therapy. Regarding of detection and imaging, the key design principles and molecular recognition mechanisms of organic small-molecule fluorescent probes are summarized, with an emphasis on their applications in live-cell and in vivo imaging. On the therapeutic front, cutting-edge strategies based on NADH-regulated photocatalytic oxidation are discussed, focusing on novel photosensitizers that utilize photoinduced electron transfer to deplete intracellular NADH and achieve effective anticancer activity under hypoxic conditions. Finally, current challenges and future directions in both sensing and therapeutic domains are outlined, and opportunities for their integration are critically examined. This convergence holds promise for advancing from molecular probe design toward precision diagnostics and targeted therapy, ultimately facilitating clinical translation.

Publication Title

Coordination Chemistry Reviews

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