Bay Leaf Extract-Based Near-Infrared Fluorescent Probe for Tissue and Cellular Imaging

Area of Science:

• Biomedical Optics
• Natural Product Chemistry
• Cancer Imaging

Background:

• Near-infrared (NIR) fluorescence imaging is crucial for deep tissue visualization.
• Current NIR agents like indocyanine green (ICG) have limitations in tumor targeting, photostability, and sensitivity.
• Natural resources offer potential for developing biocompatible and effective NIR imaging dyes.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the fluorescence characteristics of chlorophyll (Chl) extracted from dietary leaves for NIR imaging.
• To evaluate bay leaf extract as a potential NIR fluorescence imaging agent.
• To assess its capabilities for tissue contrast and cellular imaging.

Main Methods:

• Extraction and fluorescence assessment of chlorophyll from twelve dietary leaf sources.
• Detailed evaluation of bay leaf extract for fluorescence properties.
• Testing of bay leaf extract for tissue contrast and cellular imaging performance.

Main Results:

• Bay leaf extract exhibited the highest fluorescence among all tested samples.
• The chlorophyll-derived dye from bay leaves demonstrated significant fluorescence.
• The extract showed promising tissue contrast and cellular imaging capabilities.

Conclusions:

• Bay leaf extract serves as a potent natural source for a biocompatible NIR fluorescence imaging agent.
• This chlorophyll-based dye has potential applications in cellular imaging and image-guided cancer surgery.
• Natural dyes offer a promising alternative to synthetic agents for enhanced medical imaging.