Development of contrast effectors for optical and multimodal imaging of tumors

INOR 300

Samuel Achilefu, Yunpeng Ye, Sharon Bloch, Zongren Zhang, Mikhail Berezin, and Kexian Liang. Department of Radiology, Washington University School of Medicine, 4566 Scott Avenue - 6 Barnard, St. Louis, MO 63110
While many human diseases have been studied successfully by using intrinsic optical properties of normal and pathologic tissues, molecular imaging of the expression of aberrant genes, proteins, and other pathophysiologic processes would be enhanced by the use of highly specific exogenous molecular probes. We have synthesized and evaluated a variety of molecular probes for detecting and monitoring the functional status of tumors in living organisms. Of particular interest is the use of near infrared (NIR) absorbing molecules for optical imaging. This approach enables the imaging of deep pathologic tissues by optical methods because NIR light can penetrate several centimeters in tissue. Combining these optical molecular probes with positron emission tomography and magnetic resonance imaging contrast effectors, would furnish complementary diagnostic information emanating from the strengths of each method. Details of the molecular design of the compounds will be presented.