A Photocleavable Contrast Agent for Light-Responsive MRI.

Thanks to its innocuousness and high spatiotemporal resolution, light is used in several established and emerging applications in biomedicine. Among them is the modulation of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) contrast agents' relaxivity with the aim to increase the sensitivity, selectivity and amount of functional information obtained from this outstanding whole-body medical imaging technique. This approach requires the development of molecular contrast agents that show high relaxivity and strongly pronounced photo-responsiveness.

A Facile and Reproducible Synthesis of Near-Infrared Fluorescent Conjugates with Small Targeting Molecules for Microbial Infection Imaging.

Optical imaging of microbial infections, based on the detection of targeted fluorescent probes, offers high sensitivity and resolution with a relatively simple and portable setup. As the absorbance of near-infrared (NIR) light by human tissues is minimal, using respective tracers, such as IRdye800CW, enables imaging deeper target sites in the body. Herein, we present a general strategy for the conjugation of IRdye800CW and IRdye700DX to small molecules (vancomycin and amphotericin B) to provide conjugates targeted toward bacterial and fungal infections for optical imaging and photodynamic therapy.

Beyond Photodynamic Therapy: Light-Activated Cancer Chemotherapy.

Background: Cancer chemotherapy is limited by severe side effects due to unspecific cytotoxic activity of currently used therapeutics. In order to minimize these unwanted effects, several approaches have been taken, relying on the use of light to activate drugs. As light can be delivered with a very high spatiotemporal resolution, this technique is a promising strategy to selectively activate cytotoxic drugs at their site of action and thus to improve the tolerability and safety of chemotherapy.