WazaGaY: An Innovative Aza-BODIPY-Derived Near-Infrared Fluorescent Probe for Enhanced Tumor Imaging

Area of Science:

• * Inorganic Chemistry
• * Medicinal Chemistry
• * Photochemistry

Background:

• * Aza-BODIPY dyes are known fluorophores stabilized by a boron atom.
• * Replacing boron with metal ions can enhance fluorescence properties.
• * Water solubility is crucial for biological applications.

Purpose of the Study:

• * To synthesize and characterize a water-soluble gallium(III)-containing aza-BODIPY derivative (WazaGaY).
• * To evaluate the fluorescence properties and cellular behavior of WazaGaY.
• * To assess the in vivo performance of WazaGaY as a tumor imaging agent.

Main Methods:

• * Synthesis of a water-soluble gallium(III) aza-BODIPY (WazaGaY) with ammonium substituents.
• * Characterization of photophysical properties, including quantum yield and spectral shifts.
• * In vitro studies on various tumor cell lines.
• * In vivo studies in mice to determine biodistribution, safety, and tumor uptake.

Main Results:

• * WazaGaY exhibits enhanced water solubility and a significant increase in quantum yield compared to its analog.
• * The dye demonstrated effective cellular uptake and distribution across different tumor cells.
• * In vivo, WazaGaY enabled clear discrimination of subcutaneous tumors with high tumor-to-muscle ratios (7-20).

Conclusions:

• * WazaGaY is a promising water-soluble fluorescent probe with enhanced properties.
• * Its ability to visualize tumors in vivo highlights its potential for fluorescence-guided surgery.
• * This gallium(III) complex represents a novel class of imaging agents.