| NIR-Emitting Cyanine and Cyanine-Like Fluorophores: Synthesis, Optical Properties, and Biomedical Uses | ||
| Alexandria Journal of Science and Technology | ||
| Editor-in-Chief Lecture, Volume 3, Issue 2, September 2025, Pages 121-121 | ||
| DOI: 10.21608/ajst.2025.452253 | ||
| Author | ||
| Maged Henary* | ||
| Department of Chemistry, Georgia State University, Atlanta, Georgia 30303, United States Center for Diagnostics and Therapeutics, Georgia State University, Atlanta, Georgia 30303, United States | ||
| Abstract | ||
| Near-infrared (NIR) fluorescent compounds offer significant advantages over visible-wavelength emitters. Biological tissues exhibit lower absorption of NIR light, enabling deeper tissue penetration and assessment of deeper structures. Additionally, reduced autofluorescence in the NIR range allows for higher signal-to-background ratios. As a result, NIR-emitting molecular probes hold great promise for bioimaging diseased tissues. Cyanine dyes, a class of NIR fluorophores, consist of terminal heterocyclic rings connected by a polymethine chain. These dyes exhibit delocalization of electrons, resulting in longer absorption wavelengths. Our lab has recently discovered a new class of cyanine-like "donor-acceptor fluorophores" that absorb and fluoresce in the NIR range. These fluorophores feature a push-pull system comprising donor, acceptor, and linker units, which can significantly impact structure properties. In this presentation, we'll discuss the design and discovery of ZW800, a heptamethine cyanine dye with superior renal clearance, and currently in phase 3 clinical trials. We'll also compare its optical property and biodistribution to the FDA-approved indocyanine green (ICG). Furthermore, we'll outline the comparison of the synthesis and optical properties of cyanines and cyanine-like fluorophores. Then, a short cytotoxicity of breast cancer study of the cyanine like small molecules and docetaxel will be presented. | ||
| Supplementary Files | ||
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