Nitric oxide (NO) is a key signaling molecule involved in inflammation, cancer biology, and neurodegenerative disorders. Over the past few decades, it has become clear that the microenvironment and concentration of NO are critically linked to its bioactivity. Direct visualization of NO within live animals remains difficult due to a lack of sensitive analytical tools with deep tissue compatibility. We have developed an activatable photoacoustic probe for NO by systematically optimizing the photophysical properties of the boron-azadipyrromethene (aza-BODIPY) dye platform for efficient planarization. The lead compound exhibits maximal absorption at 790 and 690 nm before and after <i>N</i>-nitrosation, respectively. This enables direct, ratiometric visualization with commercial photoacoustic tomographers, which are currently limited to image with the first near-infrared imaging window (680-950 nm). With the increased sensitivity, the lead compound was capable of imaging cancer-derived NO within a murine allograph model of breast cancer.

Photophysical optimization of photoacoustic contrast agents enables nitric oxide imaging in cancer

Macromolecular Chemistry: The Second Century

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ACS Spring 2020 National Meeting & Expo

The official archive and repository for all ACS Meetings & Expositions abstracts and select posters or presentations.