Fluorescence imaging agents in cancerology

Abstract

Background: One of the major challenges in cancer therapy is to improve early detection and prevention using novel targeted cancer diagnostics. Detection requests specific recognition. Tumor markers have to be ideally present on the surface of cancer cells. Their targeting with ligands coupled to imaging agents make them visible/detectable.

Conclusions: Fluorescence imaging is a newly emerging technology which is becoming a complementary medical method for cancer diagnosis. It allows detection with a high spatio-temporal resolution of tumor markers in small animals and in clinical studies. In this review, we focus on the recent outcome of basic studies in the design of new approaches (probes and devices) used to detect tumor cells by fluorescence imaging.

Keywords: Photonic imaging; apramers; cancerology; fluorescence; smart probes.

FIGURE 1

Absorption spectra of different molecules present in biological tissues. The tissue optical window (600–1200 nm) is ideally sought in fluorescence imaging of small animals. Hemoglobin and water absorb light below and above the optical window.

FIGURE 2

Principle of targeting tumor cells by fluorescence imaging.