title: Quantitative Measurement of Protease-Activity with Correction of Probe Delivery and Tissue Absorption Effects.
abstract: Proteases play important roles in a variety of pathologies from heart disease to cancer. Quantitative measurement of protease activity is possible using a novel spectrally matched dual fluorophore probe and a small animal lifetime imager. The recorded fluorescence from an activatable fluorophore, one that changes its fluorescent amplitude after biological target interaction, is also influenced by other factors including imaging probe delivery and optical tissue absorption of excitation and emission light.Fluorescence from a second spectrally matched constant (non-activatable) fluorophore on each nanoparticle platform can be used to correct for both probe delivery and tissue absorption. The fluorescence from each fluorophore is separated using fluorescence lifetime methods.
authors.affiliation: Center for Molecular Imaging Research, Massachusetts General Hospital, Building 149, 13th Street, Room 5406, Charlestown, MA 02129-2060.
authors.forename: Christopher D
authors.initials: CD
authors.lastname: Salthouse
authors.forename: Fred
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Reynolds
authors.forename: Jenny M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Tam
authors.forename: Lee
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Josephson
authors.forename: Umar
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Mahmood