High expression of integrin αvβ3 enables uptake of targeted fluorescent probes into ovarian cancer cells and tumors.

The cell line OVCAR-4 was recently ranked as one of the most representative cell lines for high grade serous ovarian cancer (HGSOC). However, little work has been done to assess the susceptibility of OVCAR-4 cells and tumors to the more common types of molecular targeting. Proteome profiles suggest OVCAR-4 express high levels of integrin αvβ3 receptors.

Selective photothermal inactivation of cells labeled with near-infrared croconaine dye.

Photothermal inactivation of cells caused by laser heating of a near-infrared croconaine dye is more effective when the dye is located inside the cell. The cell inactivation is spatially confined - laser irradiation of a mixed population of two different cell lines produces selective inactivation of the cells labeled with croconaine dye and does not harm adjacent unlabeled cells.

Pre-Assembly of Near-Infrared Fluorescent Multivalent Molecular Probes for Biological Imaging.

A programmable pre-assembly method is described and shown to produce near-infrared fluorescent molecular probes with tunable multivalent binding properties. The modular assembly process threads one or two copies of a tetralactam macrocycle onto a fluorescent PEGylated squaraine scaffold containing a complementary number of docking stations. Appended to the macrocycle periphery are multiple copies of a ligand that is known to target a biomarker.