A Receptor-Targeted Near-Infrared Fluorescence Probe for In Vivo Tumor Imaging

Shedding light on tumors: An optical probe that consists of a near-infrared fluorochrome and folic acid was designed for in vivo tumor detection. The probe binds strongly to tumor-associated folate receptors both in vitro and in vivo. After intravenous injection of the probe, an intense fluorescence signal was observed in a mouse ovarian tumor model (see picture). Modification of fluorochromes with small molecules may thus be used in many biological and medicinal applications.