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Published on: September 19, 2014
Next generation NIR fluorophores for tumor imaging and fluorescence-guided surgery: A review
Ashanul Haque1, Md Serajul Haque Faizi1, Jahangir Ahmad Rather1
1Department of Chemistry, College of Sciences, Sultan Qaboos University, Muscat, Oman.
Abstract:
Cancer is a group of diseases responsible for the major causes of mortality and morbidity among people of all ages. Even though medical sciences have made enormous growth, complete treatment of this deadly disease is still a challenging task. Last few decades witnessed an impressive growth in the design and development of near infrared (NIR) fluorophores with and without recognition moieties for molecular recognitions, imaging and image guided surgeries. The present article reviews recently reported NIR emitting organic/inorganic fluorophores that targets and accumulates in organelle/organs specifically for molecular imaging of cancerous cells. Near infrared (NIR probe) with or without a tumor-targeting warhead have been considered and discussed for their applications in the field of cancer imaging. In addition, challenges persist in this area are also delineated in this review.
Insights
This review covers new near-infrared (NIR) fluorophores for molecular imaging of cancer. These advanced probes target cancer cells, aiding in diagnosis and image-guided surgery, though challenges remain.
Area of Science:
- Biomedical Engineering
- Medical Imaging
- Organic Chemistry
Background:
- Cancer remains a leading cause of death globally, necessitating advanced diagnostic and therapeutic strategies.
- Significant progress has been made in developing near-infrared (NIR) fluorophores for biomedical applications.
- Molecular imaging plays a crucial role in early cancer detection and surgical guidance.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review recently developed NIR-emitting organic and inorganic fluorophores for cancer imaging.
- To discuss the application of NIR probes, with or without tumor-targeting moieties, in visualizing cancerous cells.
- To highlight challenges and future directions in the field of NIR-based cancer imaging.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of recent scientific publications on NIR fluorophores for cancer imaging.
- Analysis of organic and inorganic NIR fluorophores targeting specific organelles or organs in cancer cells.
- Discussion of NIR probes functionalized with tumor-targeting agents.
Main Results:
- Numerous NIR fluorophores have been designed for enhanced molecular recognition and imaging of cancer.
- These fluorophores demonstrate specific accumulation in cancerous cells and tissues.
- NIR probes show promise for improving the accuracy of cancer diagnosis and image-guided interventions.
Conclusions:
- NIR fluorophores represent a powerful tool for molecular imaging of cancer, offering improved visualization and detection.
- Targeted NIR probes enhance specificity for cancerous cells, aiding in early diagnosis and surgical precision.
- Overcoming current challenges is essential for the broader clinical adoption of NIR imaging in oncology.
