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

Abstract

Abstract Hydrogen peroxide (H 2 O 2 ) is one of essential oxygen metabolites in living organisms, but is generated in large amounts during inflammatory responses. Therefore, H 2 O 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 2 O 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 2 O 2 as low as 100 nM and image H 2 O 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 2 O 2 and releasing antioxidant hydroxybenzyl alcohol (HBA). They also exert inhibitory effects on H 2 O 2 ‐induced apoptosis. HPOX‐based chemiluminescent and antioxidant micelles have great potential as a theranostic agent for H 2 O 2 ‐associated inflammatory diseases.