An aryl-hydrocarbon receptor-based drug-screening strategy for hepatocellular carcinoma based on dynamic fluorescence imaging.

The development of fluorescence imaging-based drug-screening methods is crucial. We devised an AhR-specific platform AhRPH (LOD = 8.7 ng mL-1), which consists of vitamin-A functionalized liposomes targeting HSCs and encapsulating AhR-specific probes (ArP). It distinguished drug efficacy: sorafenib/lenvatinib boosted AhR (resistance), and regorafenib suppressed it. This method is specific/sensitive but has limited in vivo depth.