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Published on: June 30, 2018
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Preassembled Fluorescent Multivalent Probes for the Imaging of Anionic Membranes
Felicia M Roland1, Evan M Peck1, Douglas R Rice1
1Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Notre Dame , 236 Nieuwland Science Hall, Notre Dame, Indiana 46556, United States.
Bioconjugate Chemistry
|January 27, 2017
Summary
New Synthavidin technology creates fluorescent probes for disease imaging. Divalent probes show promise for in vivo tumor imaging but performance varies with target characteristics.
Area of Science:
- Bioconjugation Chemistry
- Molecular Imaging
- Nanotechnology
Background:
- Anionic cell membranes and surfaces are key disease biomarkers.
- Targeted fluorescent probes are crucial for sensitive disease detection.
- Developing probes with enhanced binding and imaging capabilities is essential.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop and evaluate novel multivalent fluorescent probes using Synthavidin technology for near-infrared imaging.
- To investigate the impact of probe multivalency on membrane binding and fluorescence.
- To assess the in vivo imaging performance of these probes in a disease model.
Main Methods:
- Synthavidin technology was employed to create hexavalent and dodecavalent fluorescent probes.
- Liposome titration experiments assessed probe-membrane interactions.
- Fluorescence microscopy evaluated probe performance on cell surfaces and in vivo tumor imaging in rats.
Main Results:
- Dodeca-valent probes demonstrated enhanced membrane binding and turn-on fluorescence.
- Probe self-aggregation and self-quenching were observed on dead/dying mammalian cells but not microbial surfaces.
- In vivo rat tumor imaging confirmed probe stability and feasibility for multivalent targeting.
Conclusions:
- Preassembled multivalent fluorescent probes show potential for disease imaging.
- Imaging performance is dependent on target attributes like biomarker spacing and aggregation propensity.
- Synthavidin technology offers a versatile platform for developing targeted imaging agents.

