Development of an Easily Bioconjugatable Water-Soluble Single-Photon Emission-Computed Tomography/Optical Imaging Bimodal Imaging Probe Based on the aza-BODIPY Fluorophore

J Med Chem. 2021 Aug 12;64(15):11063-11073. doi: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.1c00450. Epub 2021 Aug 2.

Abstract

A water-soluble fluorescent aza-BODIPY platform (Wazaby) was prepared and functionalized by a polyazamacrocycle agent and a bioconjugable arm. The resulting fluorescent derivative was characterized and bioconjugated onto a trastuzumab monoclonal antibody as a vector. After bioconjugation, the imaging agent appeared to be stable in serum (>72 h at 37 °C) and specifically labeled HER-2-positive breast tumors slices. The bioconjugate was radiolabeled with [111In] indium and studied in vivo. The developed monomolecular multimodal imaging probe (MOMIP) is water-soluble and chemically and photochemically stable, emits in the near infrared (NIR) region (734 nm in aqueous media), and displays a good quantum yield of fluorescence (around 15%). Single-photon emission-computed tomography and fluorescence imaging have been performed in nude mice bearing HER2-overexpressing HCC1954 human breast cancer xenografts and have evidenced the good tumor targeting of the [111In] In bimodal agent. Finally, the proof of concept of using it as a new tool for fluorescence-guided surgery has been shown.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antibodies, Monoclonal / chemistry
  • Boron Compounds / chemical synthesis
  • Boron Compounds / chemistry*
  • Breast Neoplasms / diagnostic imaging*
  • Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
  • Drug Development*
  • Female
  • Fluorescent Dyes / chemical synthesis
  • Fluorescent Dyes / chemistry*
  • Hep G2 Cells
  • Humans
  • Mammary Neoplasms, Experimental / diagnostic imaging
  • Mice
  • Mice, Nude
  • Molecular Structure
  • Optical Imaging*
  • Solubility
  • Structure-Activity Relationship
  • Tomography, Emission-Computed, Single-Photon*
  • Water / chemistry

Substances

  • Antibodies, Monoclonal
  • Boron Compounds
  • Fluorescent Dyes
  • azaBDPBA compound
  • Water