The recent technological advances in non-invasive small animal fluorescence imaging and the future prospect of routine human fluorescence imaging has given rise to a resurgent interest in suitable fluorophores which have emission in the near-infrared (NIR) (> 700 nm) spectral region.  We have recently developed the BF2-chelated tetraarylazadipyrromethenes as a new class of NIR fluorophore.[1] In this presentation the covalent attachment of our NIR fluorophores to a nanoparticle surface will be described.  The nanoparticle/NIR fluorophore constructs are designed to be fluorescent silent in extracellular environments yet upon cellular uptake via endocytosis fluorescence is switched on (Figure 1).[2]  This permits continuous real-time imaging of the uptake process with excellent signal to noise ratio.  The design, synthesis, characterization and in vitro illustration of cellular uptake activated off to on switchable fluorescent nanoparticles will be outlined.[3]References:[1] Tasior, M.; O'Shea, D.F.  Bioconj. Chem. 2010  , 21, 1130.[2]  Palma, A.; Alvarez, L.A.; Scholz, D.; Frimannsson, D.O.; Grossi, M.; Quinn, S.J.; O'Shea, D.F. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2011  , 133, 19618.[3]  For real-time cellular uptake movie see; http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FjipbGTf8w4.

Cellular uptake mediated off/on responsive near-infrared fluorescent nanoparticles

244th National Meeting (2012)

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