Near-infrared fluorescent probe could optimize tumor removal by surgeons

A researcher at Michigan Technological University (Michigan Tech; Houghton, MI) has developed a near-infrared (NIR) fluorescent probe that illuminates the enzyme beta-galactosidase in a cell culture, which could help cancer surgeons to remove tumors entirely without disrupting surrounding healthy tissue.

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The probe—developed by Haiying Liu, a chemistry professor at Michigan Tech—clings to beta-galactosidase-coated antibodies to make them glow under NIR fluorescent light. Because it fluoresces in the NIR, it can penetrate deep tissues, a property that would allow surgeons to detect malignancies buried in healthy tissue.

Its other appealing attributes include less background noise for surgeons, as other fluorescent tissues typically glow green or blue; it is virtually nontoxic at low concentrations; it responds quickly to the enzyme at ultra-low concentrations; and its fluorescence is stable and long-lasting, so it could shine through hours-long cancer operations.

In a study, Liu and his research team showed how the probe bonds to beta-galactocidase in a solution of living cells. In the future, they would like to collaborate with medical researchers to refine their system, incorporating enzyme-labeled cancer antibodies and developing it as a guide for surgeons.

Full details of the work appear in the journal Analytic Chimica Acta; for more information, please visit http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.aca.2017.02.039.