Optical bio-imaging for detecting metastatic cancer-specific enzyme activity

International Conference and Exhibition on Molecular Medicine and Diagnostics

August 24-26, 2015 London, UK

Minhee Ku

Posters-Accepted Abstracts: J Mol Genet Med

Abstract :

Biological optical imaging in the NIR window includes strategies for diagnostic imaging of solid tumors, separation from autofluorescence
enabling higher signal-to background ration and increased penetration into tissue than visible light. The use of NIR
fluorescent cyanine dyes (Cy7) has desirable NIR optical properties and we developed a near-infrared (NIR) in vivo imaging probe
for simultaneous metastatic tumor targeting and fluorescence imaging. The metastatic cell phenotype was considered as essential
information in multiple tumor types. Among the many extracellular proteases, membrane-type matrix metalloproteinase 1 (MT1-
MMP) is considered key promoters in extracellular matrix (ECM)-degrading membrane protrusions of cancer cells. Therefore, the
sensitive imaging of proteolytic enzyme activity and presence is important for prediction of the metastatic ability cancer cells. In this
study, a fluorogenic sensing probe was fabricated by conjugation of Cy7 modified MT1-MMP specific cleavable peptides with gold
nano rods (GNRs). GNR provide a versatile method for NIR photo-absorption and nano-particle surface energy transfer (NSET). We
have demonstrated metastatic tumor selectivity of NIR optical imaging probes based on proteolytic activity of MT1-MMP in vitro
and in vivo. We conclude the potential benefits of NIR optical imaging probe for studying metastatic properties by tumor detection,
biomarker visualization and molecular activity.

Biography :

Minhee Ku is pursuing Doctoral course at Brain Korea 21 Plus Project for Medical Science, Yonsei University. Simultaneously, she’s studying metastatic potential of cancer
based on enzymatic activity.