Citation: Min ZHAO, Tingxu LIU, Ye WANG, Xianghe CHEN, Buhui LIU, Manman XIE, Cuiping HAN. Antioxidant activity of ultra-small quercetin nanoprobes under imaging guidance[J]. Chinese Journal of Inorganic Chemistry, ;2026, 42(7): 1495-1504. doi: 10.11862/CJIC.20260016 shu

Antioxidant activity of ultra-small quercetin nanoprobes under imaging guidance

Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, Jiangsu 221002, China

Corresponding author: Buhui LIU, liubuhui@xzhmu.edu.cn Manman XIE, xieman@xzhmu.edu.cn Cuiping HAN, hancp@xzhmu.edu.cn
Received Date: 16 January 2026
Revised Date: 13 April 2026

Figures(6)

Accurately targeting damaged chondrocytes for the diagnosis and treatment of osteoarthritis (OA) remains a formidable challenge. In this study, we designed and prepared an ultrasmall quercetin-gadolinium (CPQGd) nanoprobe assembly. The negative charge on the surface of CPQGd nanoprobes enables them to target degenerated chondrocytes through electrostatic interactions, as these cells typically carry weak negative charges due to pathological changes. Thanks to the strong antioxidant properties of quercetin, CPQGd nanoprobes exhibited significant multi- enzyme mimetic activity, effectively mimicking the functions of superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), and peroxidase (POD). This multi-pathway catalytic activity promotes the comprehensive clearance of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in degenerated chondrocytes, reducing oxidative stress in the OA microenvironment. In addition to its therapeutic function, CPQGd nanoprobes also integrate dual-mode imaging capabilities. The doped gadolinium ions provide high-resolution T₁-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), while the intrinsic fluorescence of TCPP endows CPQGd with sensitive fluorescence properties. This collaborative imaging platform not only enables precise localization of degenerated chondrocytes by probes but also enables non-invasive real-time monitoring of their biological distribution and therapeutic response.
- quercetin,
- nanoprobe,
- antioxidant,
- multimodal imaging,
- osteoarthritis
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