Biomolecular Physics Department, Faculty of Physics, Babeș-Bolyai University, Cluj-Napoca, Cluj, Romania.
Nanobiophotonics and Laser Microspectroscopy Centre, Interdisciplinary Research Institute in Bio-Nano-Sciences, Babeș-Bolyai University, Cluj-Napoca, Cluj, Romania.
Int J Nanomedicine. 2021 Mar 12;16:2147-2171. doi: 10.2147/IJN.S295234. eCollection 2021.
The use of fluorescence imaging technique for visualization, resection and treatment of cancerous tissue, attained plenty of interest once the promise of whole body and deep tissue near-infrared (NIR) imaging emerged. Why is NIR so desired? Contrast agents with optical properties in the NIR spectral range offer an upgrade for the diagnosis and treatment of cancer, by dint of the deep tissue penetration of light in the NIR region of the electromagnetic spectrum, also known as the optical window in biological tissue. Thus, the development of a new generation of NIR emitting and absorbing contrast agents able to overcome the shortcomings of the basic free dye administration is absolutely essential. Several examples of nanoparticles (NPs) have been successfully implemented as carriers for NIR dye molecules to the tumour site owing to their prolonged blood circulation time and enhanced accumulation within the tumour, as well as their increased fluorescence signal relative to free fluorophore emission and active targeting of cancerous cells. Due to their versatile structure, good biocompatibility and capability to efficiently load dyes and bioconjugate with diverse cancer-targeting ligands, the research area of developing protein-based NPs encapsulated or conjugated with NIR dyes is highly promising but still in its infancy. The current review aims to provide an up-to-date overview on the biocompatibility, specific targeting and versatility offered by protein-based NPs loaded with different classes of NIR dyes as next-generation fluorescent agents. Moreover, this study brings to light the newest and most relevant advances involving the state-of-the-art NIR fluorescent agents for the real-time interventional NIR fluorescence imaging of cancer in clinical trials.
荧光成象技术在癌症组织的可视化、切除和治疗方面的应用引起了广泛关注，因为它有望实现全身和深部组织近红外（NIR）成象。为什么 NIR 如此受欢迎？具有 NIR 光谱范围内光学性质的造影剂通过在电磁光谱的 NIR 区域（也称为生物组织的光学窗口）中提供更深的组织穿透光，为癌症的诊断和治疗提供了升级。因此，开发新一代能够克服基本游离染料给药缺点的 NIR 发射和吸收造影剂是绝对必要的。由于其延长的血液循环时间和在肿瘤内的增强积累，以及相对于游离荧光团发射的增强荧光信号和对癌细胞的主动靶向，几种纳米颗粒（NPs）的例子已成功地用作 NIR 染料分子到肿瘤部位的载体。由于其多功能结构、良好的生物相容性以及有效装载染料和与各种癌症靶向配体结合的能力，用 NIR 染料封装或共轭的基于蛋白质的 NPs 的研究领域极具前景，但仍处于起步阶段。本综述旨在提供最新的概述，介绍不同类别 NIR 染料负载的基于蛋白质的 NPs 的生物相容性、特异性靶向和多功能性，作为下一代荧光剂。此外，本研究揭示了最新型和最相关的最先进的 NIR 荧光剂的最新进展，用于临床试验中癌症的实时介入 NIR 荧光成象。
