Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 8, 2026
10:55
Fluorescence-quenching of a Liposomal-encapsulated Near-infrared Fluorophore as a Tool for In Vivo Optical Imaging
Published on: January 5, 2015
Development of fluorescent probes for bioimaging applications
1Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan. tlong@mol.f.u-tokyo.ac.jp
Summary
This review details the design principles for advanced fluorescent probes, essential for visualizing biological processes. It highlights photoinduced electron transfer and spirocyclization mechanisms for creating novel bioimaging tools.
Area of Science:
- Bioimaging
- Chemical Biology
- Molecular Probes
Background:
- Fluorescent probes are crucial for visualizing cations, biomolecules like nitric oxide (NO), and enzyme activities in living systems via fluorescence microscopy.
- Understanding biological functions relies heavily on these indispensable imaging tools.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review general principles for designing bioimaging fluorescent probes.
- To discuss fluorescence modulation mechanisms including acceptor-excited Photoinduced electron Transfer (a-PeT), donor-excited Photoinduced electron Transfer (d-PeT), and spirocyclization.
- To present applications of developed probes in biological systems.
Main Methods:
- Modulating fluorophore fluorescence properties using established mechanisms: a-PeT, d-PeT, and spirocyclization.
- Rational design of novel fluorescence probes for specific target molecules.
- Development and application of over fifty bioimaging probes.
Main Results:
- Established a-PeT and d-PeT mechanisms as widely applicable for designing diverse fluorescent probes.
- Demonstrated spirocyclization as a valuable fluorescence switching mechanism.
- Developed more than fifty bioimaging probes, with fourteen now commercially available.
Conclusions:
- Fluorescence modulation mechanisms are key to the rational design of novel bioimaging probes.
- The developed probes have shown utility in various in vitro and in vivo applications.
- This work provides a foundation for future advancements in fluorescent probe development for biological research.
Related Concept Videos
03:31Labeling DNA Probes
DNA probes are fragments of DNA labeled with a reporter tag to enable their detection or purification. The resulting labeled DNA probes can then hybridize to target nucleic acid sequences through complementary base-pairing, and may be used to recover or identify these regions.
Radioisotopes, fluorophores, or small molecule binding partners like biotin or digoxigenin, are the most widely used reporter tags for labeling DNA probes. These labels can be attached to the probe DNA molecule via...
Radioisotopes, fluorophores, or small molecule binding partners like biotin or digoxigenin, are the most widely used reporter tags for labeling DNA probes. These labels can be attached to the probe DNA molecule via...
01:19Protein Dynamics in Living Cells
Different fluorescence-based techniques are used to study the protein dynamics in living cells. These techniques include FRAP, FRET, and PET.
Fluorescent recovery after photobleaching (FRAP) is a fluorescent-protein-based detection technique used to quantify protein movement rates within the cell. This method exposes a small portion of the cell to an intense laser beam. The laser beam causes permanent photobleaching of the fluorophore-tagged proteins in the exposed region. As the bleached...
Fluorescent recovery after photobleaching (FRAP) is a fluorescent-protein-based detection technique used to quantify protein movement rates within the cell. This method exposes a small portion of the cell to an intense laser beam. The laser beam causes permanent photobleaching of the fluorophore-tagged proteins in the exposed region. As the bleached...
01:12Immunofluorescence Microscopy
A fluorescence microscope uses fluorescent chromophores called fluorochromes, which can absorb energy from a light source and then emit this energy as visible light. Fluorochromes include naturally fluorescent substances (such as chlorophylls) and fluorescent stains that are added to the specimen to create contrast. Dyes such as Texas red and FITC are examples of fluorochromes. Other examples include the nucleic acid dyes 4’,6’-diamidino-2-phenylindole (DAPI), and acridine orange.
The...
The...
02:11Reporter Genes
Reporter genes are a type of protein-coding gene that are often tagged to a gene of interest. Once inside a target cell, reporter genes usually produce visually identifiable characteristics like fluorescence and luminescence when expressed along with the gene of interest. Thus, reporter genes “report” the presence or absence of genes of interest in an organism, determine the gene expression pattern, or track the physical location of a DNA segment or protein in the cell.
Commonly used reporter...
Commonly used reporter...