Related Experiment Video

Updated: Feb 15, 2026

Non-invasive In Vivo Fluorescence Optical Imaging of Inflammatory MMP Activity Using an Activatable Fluorescent Imaging Agent
06:46

Non-invasive In Vivo Fluorescence Optical Imaging of Inflammatory MMP Activity Using an Activatable Fluorescent Imaging Agent

Published on: May 8, 2017

9.3K

Imaging of Colorectal Cancers Using Activatable Nanoprobes with Second Near-Infrared Window Emission

Ge Xu1, Qinglong Yan2, Xiaoguang Lv3

  • 1Key Laboratory for Advanced Materials and Institute of Fine Chemicals, School of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai, 200237, P. R. China.

Angewandte Chemie (International Ed. in English)
|February 3, 2018
PubMed

Insights

Researchers developed a new activatable fluorescent probe for high-resolution imaging of colorectal cancer. This probe enhances signal specificity and enables deep-tissue visualization of tumors in animal models.

Area of Science:

  • Biomedical Engineering
  • Optical Imaging
  • Nanotechnology

Background:

  • Second near-infrared window (NIR-II) probes offer deep-tissue penetration for bioimaging.
  • Current NIR-II materials suffer from poor signal-to-background ratios due to limited target specificity.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To devise an activatable, target-specific NIR-II nanoprobe for visualizing colorectal cancers.
  • To improve the accuracy of colorectal tumor identification through enhanced imaging.

Main Methods:

  • Development of a novel nanoprobe exhibiting H₂S-activated ratiometric fluorescence.
  • Utilizing light-up NIR-II emission in the 900-1300 nm range for imaging.
  • Application of the probe for deep-tissue imaging of H₂S-rich colon cancer cells in animal models.

Main Results:

  • The designed probe demonstrated H₂S-activated ratiometric fluorescence and light-up NIR-II emission.
  • Accurate identification of colorectal tumors was achieved in animal models.
  • The probe's target specificity enhanced signal-to-background ratios for clearer imaging.

Conclusions:

  • The developed activatable NIR-II nanoprobe shows promise for specific colorectal cancer visualization.
  • This technology has potential for widespread applications in biological research and clinical diagnostics.
  • Future development of activatable NIR-II probes could significantly advance in vivo imaging capabilities.
Keywords:
colon cancerfluorescencein vivo imagingnanoprobessecond near-infrared window

More Related Videos

Characterizing Far-infrared Laser Emissions and the Measurement of Their Frequencies09:38

Characterizing Far-infrared Laser Emissions and the Measurement of Their Frequencies

Published on: December 18, 2015

12.7K
Surface-enhanced Resonance Raman Scattering Nanoprobe Ratiometry for Detecting Microscopic Ovarian Cancer via Folate Receptor Targeting07:54

Surface-enhanced Resonance Raman Scattering Nanoprobe Ratiometry for Detecting Microscopic Ovarian Cancer via Folate Receptor Targeting

Published on: March 25, 2019

8.7K

Related Concept Videos

Emission Spectra02:39

Emission Spectra

When solids, liquids, or condensed gases are heated sufficiently, they radiate some of the excess energy as light. Photons produced in this manner have a range of energies, and thereby produce a continuous spectrum in which an unbroken series of wavelengths is present.
76.7K
Imaging Studies II: Positron Emission Tomography and Scintigraphy01:25

Imaging Studies II: Positron Emission Tomography and Scintigraphy

Positron Emission Tomography (PET) is a medical imaging technique that provides crucial insights into the body's physiological functions at a molecular level. It is an indispensable resource for diagnosing, staging, and monitoring various illnesses, notably cancer, neurological disorders, and cardiovascular conditions.
Fundamental Principles of PET
619
Positron Emission Tomography01:29

Positron Emission Tomography

Positron emission tomography (PET) is a medical imaging technique involving radiopharmaceuticals — substances that emit short-lived radiation. Although the first PET scanner was introduced in 1961, it took 15 more years before radiopharmaceuticals were combined with the technique and revolutionized its potential.
One of the main requirements of a PET scan is a positron-emitting radioisotope, which is produced in a cyclotron and then attached to a substance used by the part of the body...
7.7K
Infrared (IR) Spectroscopy: Overview01:09

Infrared (IR) Spectroscopy: Overview

When electromagnetic radiation passes through a material, atoms or molecules transition from a lower to a higher energy state by absorbing radiation corresponding to the energy difference between the two states. The absorption of infrared (IR) radiation causes transitions between vibrational energy levels in a molecule. Therefore, IR spectroscopy is a useful analytical tool for determining the molecular structure of molecules.
Different compounds display unique properties due to their...
5.2K
Atomic Emission Spectroscopy: Lab01:29

Atomic Emission Spectroscopy: Lab

AES is a powerful analytical technique, especially effective when used with plasma sources, producing abundant spectra in characteristic emission lines. The Inductively Coupled Plasma (ICP), in particular, yields superior quantitative analytical data due to its high stability, low noise, low background, and minimal interferences under optimal experimental conditions. However, newer air-operated microwave sources are emerging as promising alternatives that could be more cost-effective than...
666
Molecular Spectroscopy: Absorption and Emission01:14

Molecular Spectroscopy: Absorption and Emission

Molecules possess discrete energy levels called quantum states. Unlike atoms, which have simpler energy levels, molecules possess additional rotational and vibrational energy levels.  Each energy level is separated by an energy gap, with the gaps between adjacent electronic, vibrational, and rotational levels varying significantly. The three types of energy levels in a diatomic molecule are shown in Figure 1.
4.7K