title: Protease sensors for bioimaging.
abstract: Optical imaging of specific molecular targets and pathways in vivo has recently become possible through continued developments in imaging equipment, reconstruction algorithms, and more importantly the availability of imaging reporter molecules. These reporter molecules encompass photoproteins expressed in vivo and exogenously administered probes detectable by fluorescence and/or bioluminescence imaging. One particularly enticing aspect of optical imaging is the ability to design activatible probes with inherent amplification. This review summarizes our experience in developing novel near-infrared fluorescent (NIRF) imaging agents that report on protease activities. These agents are designed to be biocompatible, highly activatible, and able to produce bright NIRF following protease cleavage.
authors.affiliation: Center for Molecular Imaging Research, Harvard Medical School, Rm. 5406, 149 13th St., Charlestown, MA 02129, USA.
authors.forename: Martin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Funovics
authors.forename: Ralph
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Weissleder
authors.forename: Ching-Hsuan
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Tung
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000032:analysis*; D003952:Diagnostic Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D010450:Endopeptidases / Q000378:metabolism*; D005453:Fluorescence
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D010450:Endopeptidases