Fig. 4: Sensitivity and specificity of NIR-IIb fluorescence ratiometric imaging of Bi-HCy-ErNPs towards NE.

a Schematic illustration of sensitivity and specificity of Bi-HCy-ErNPs in response to NE. b, c Fluorescence spectra of Bi-HCy-ErNPs treated with different formulations (NE inhibitor, cathespin S, cathespin C, cathespin G, caspase-1, caspase-3, granzyme B, and proteinase 3) at (b) 808 and (c) 980 nm excitation. d, e Fluorescence intensity of Bi-HCy-ErNPs treated with different formulations at (d) 808 and (e) 980 nm excitation (n = 50). Data are compared through one-way ANOVA with Tukey’s post-hoc test for multiple comparisons. d P-values of Bi-HCy-ErNPs + NE group to the other groups are <0.0001. e P-values of Bi-HCy-ErNPs + NE group to the other groups are >0.9150. f Fluorescence ratiometric signal of Bi-HCy-ErNPs treated with different formulations (n = 50). Data are compared through one-way ANOVA with Tukey’s post-hoc test for multiple comparisons. P-values of Bi-HCy-ErNPs + NE group to the other groups are <0.0001. g NIR-IIb fluorescence imaging of Bi-HCy-ErNPs treated with different formulations at 808 and 980 nm excitation and their NIR-IIb fluorescence ratiometric imaging. h Fluorescence spectra of Bi-HCy-ErNPs treated with different formulations at varying concentrations at 808 nm excitation.