Towards whole-body fluorescence imaging in humans

Organic fluorescent nanoprobes with NIR-IIb characteristics for deep learning

Illumination of biological events with near-infrared II sub-channel (NIR-IIb, 1500-1700 nm) enhances the transparency of biological tissues, which is very attractive for deep imaging. Due to the long-wavelength, which reduces optical damage, suppresses autofluorescence, and obviates light scattering, NIR-IIb nanoprobes afford deep tissue penetration with unprecedented spatiotemporal resolution. Hence, NIR-IIb imaging facilitates deep learning and decipherment of biological proceedings in living organisms with astounding high clarity. In comparison to its predecessors in the visible-near-infrared spectrum, imaging in the NIR-IIb has shown great potential for tissue imaging and extrapolating imaging applications for clinical studies. However, the use of organic fluorescent nanoprobes (OFNPs) in the NIR-IIb region is still rare since it is in its early stages. Thus, herein we aim to survey the recent development of different organic fluorescent nanomaterials with NIR-IIb characteristics, their unique photophysical properties, and their utilization in deep imaging in animal models. Further, practical researches on organic fluorescent nanoprobes with NIR-IIb emission and their transition to clinical applications are highlighted.

To Waste or Not to Waste: Questioning Potential Health Risks of Micro- and Nanoplastics with a Focus on Their Ingestion and Potential Carcinogenicity

Micro- and nanoplastics (MNPs) are recognized as emerging contaminants, especially in food, with unknown health significance. MNPs passing through the gastrointestinal tract have been brought in context with disruption of the gut microbiome. Several molecular mechanisms have been described to facilitate tissue uptake of MNPs, which then are involved in local inflammatory and immune responses. Furthermore, MNPs can act as potential transporters ("vectors") of contaminants and as chemosensitizers for toxic substances ("Trojan Horse effect"). In this review, we summarize current multidisciplinary knowledge of ingested MNPs and their potential adverse health effects. We discuss new insights into analytical and molecular modeling tools to help us better understand the local deposition and uptake of MNPs that might drive carcinogenic signaling. We present bioethical insights to basically re-consider the "culture of consumerism." Finally, we map out prominent research questions in accordance with the Sustainable Development Goals of the United Nations.

Recent advances in dioxaborine-based fluorescent materials for bioimaging applications

Fluorescent materials are continuously contributing to important advances in the field of bioimaging. Among these materials, dioxaborine-based fluorescent materials (DBFM) are arousing growing interest. Due to their rigid structures conferred by a cyclic boron complex, DBFM possess appealing photophysical properties including high extinction coefficients and quantum yields as well as emission in the near infrared, enhanced photostability and high two-photon absorption. We herein discuss the recent advances of DBFM that found use in bioimaging applications. This review covers the development of fluorescent molecular probes for biomolecules (DNA, proteins), small molecules (cysteine, H₂O₂, oxygen), ions and the environment (polarity, viscosity) as well as polymers and nanomaterials used in bioimaging. This review aims at providing a comprehensive and critical insight on DBFM by highlighting the assets of these promising materials in bioimaging but also by pointing out their limitations that would require further developments.

Coumarin-grafted blue-emitting fluorescent alginate as a potentially valuable tool for biomedical applications

A novel blue-emitting fluorescent alginate derivative has been successfully synthesized in a simple two-reaction step protocol. The developed material showed to be biocompatible and traceable upon long periods of incubation in physiologic conditions.

Modulating the distribution and fate of exogenously delivered MSCs to enhance therapeutic potential: knowns and unknowns

Mesenchymal stem/stromal cells (MSCs) are undergoing intensive translational research for several debilitating conditions, including critical illnesses such as ARDS and sepsis. MSCs exert diverse biologic effects via their interaction with host tissues, via mechanisms that require the MSC to be in close proximity to the area of injury. Fully harnessing the therapeutic potential of advanced medicinal therapeutic products such as MSCs and their successful translation to clinical use requires a detailed understanding of MSC distribution and persistence in the injured tissues.

Key aspects include understanding MSC distribution within the body, the response of the host to MSC administration, and the ultimate fate of exogenously administered MSCs within the host. Factors affecting this interaction include the MSC tissue source, the in vitro MSC culture conditions, the route of MSC administration and the specific issues relating to the target disease state, each of which remains to be fully characterised. Understanding these factors may generate strategies to modify MSC distribution and fate that may enhance their therapeutic effect.

This review will examine our understanding of the mechanisms of action of MSCs, the early and late phase distribution kinetics of MSCs following in vivo administration, the ultimate fate of MSCs following administration and the potential importance of these MSC properties to their therapeutic effects. We will critique current cellular imaging and tracking methodologies used to track exogenous MSCs and their suitability for use in patients, discuss the insights they provide into the distribution and fate of MSCs after administration, and suggest strategies by which MSC biodistribution and fate may be modulated for therapeutic effect and clinical use.

In conclusion, a better understanding of patterns of biodistribution and of the fate of MSCs will add important additional safety data regarding MSCs, address regulatory requirements, and may uncover strategies to increase the distribution and/or persistence of MSC at the sites of injury, potentially increasing their therapeutic potential for multiple disorders.

Microvascular imaging of the skin

Despite our understanding that the microvasculature plays a multifaceted role in the development and progression of various conditions, we know little about the extent of this involvement. A need exists for non-invasive, clinically meaningful imaging modalities capable of elucidating microvascular information to aid in our understanding of disease, and to aid in the diagnosis/monitoring of disease for more patient-specific care. In this review article, a number of imaging techniques are summarized that have been utilized to investigate the microvasculature of skin, along with their advantages, disadvantages and future perspectives in preclinical and clinical settings. These techniques include dermoscopy, capillaroscopy, Doppler sonography, laser Doppler flowmetry (LDF) and perfusion imaging, laser speckle contrast imaging (LSCI), optical coherence tomography (OCT), including its Doppler and dynamic variant and the more recently developed OCT angiography (OCTA), photoacoustic imaging, and spatial frequency domain imaging (SFDI). Attention is largely, but not exclusively, placed on optical imaging modalities that use intrinsic optical signals to contrast the microvasculature. We conclude that whilst each imaging modality has been successful in filling a particular niche, there is no one, all-encompassing modality without inherent flaws. Therefore, the future of cutaneous microvascular imaging may lie in utilizing a multi-modal approach that will counter the disadvantages of individual systems to synergistically augment our imaging capabilities.

Brightness Enhancement of Near-Infrared Semiconducting Polymer Dots for in Vivo Whole-Body Cell Tracking in Deep Organs

In vivo visualization of cell migration and engraftment in small animals provide crucial information in biomedical studies. Semiconducting polymer dots (Pdots) are emerging as superior probes for biological imaging. However, in vivo whole-body fluorescence imaging is largely constrained by the limited brightness of Pdots in near-infrared (NIR) region. Here, we describe the brightness enhancement of NIR fluorescent Pdots for in vivo whole-body cell tracking in deep organs. We first synthesize semiconducting polymers with strong absorption in orange and far-red regions. By molecular doping, the weak broad-band fluorescence of the Pdots was significantly narrowed and enhanced by 1 order of magnitude enhancement, yielding bright narrow-band NIR emission with a quantum yield of ∼0.21. Under an excitation of far-red light (676 nm), a trace amount of Pdots (∼2 μg) in the stomach can be clearly detected in whole-body fluorescence imaging of live mice. The Pdots coated with a cell-penetrating peptide are able to brightly label cancer cells with minimal cytotoxicity. In vivo cell tracking in live mice indicated that the entrapment and migration of the tail-vein-administered cells (∼400 000) were clearly visualized in real time. These Pdots with deep-red excitation and bright NIR emission are promising for in vivo whole-body fluorescence imaging.

Blood flow characteristics of diabetic patients with complications detected by optical measurement

Background

Diabetes mellitus (DM) is one of the most common diseases worldwide. Uncontrolled and prolonged hyperglycemia can cause diabetic complications, which reduce the quality of life of patients. Diabetic complications are common in DM patients. Because it is impossible to completely recover from diabetic complications, it is important for early detection. In this study, we suggest a novel method of determining blood flow characteristics based on fluorescence image analysis with indocyanine green and report that diabetic complications have unique blood flow characteristics.

Methods

We analyzed time-series fluorescence images obtained from controls, DM patients, and DM patients with complications. The images were segmented into the digits and the dorsum of the feet and hands, and each part has been considered as arterial and capillary flow. We compared the blood flow parameters in each region among the three groups.

Results

The DM patients with complications showed similar blood flow parameters to the controls, except the area under the curve and the maximum intensity, which indicate the blood flow volume. These parameters were significantly decreased in DM patients with complications. Although some blood flow parameters in the feet of DM patients with complications were close to normal blood flow, the vascular response of the macrovessels and microvessels to stimulation of the hands was significantly reduced, which indicates less reactivity in DM patients with complications.

Conclusions

Our results suggest that DM patients, and DM patients with complications, have unique peripheral blood flow characteristics.

Thermosensitive porphyrin-incorporated hydrogel with four-arm PEG-PCL copolymer (II): doxorubicin loaded hydrogel as a dual fluorescent drug delivery system for simultaneous imaging tracking in vivo

Visualization of a drug delivery system could reveal the pharmacokinetic properties, which is essential for the design of a novel drug delivery system. In vivo optical imaging offers an advanced tool to monitor the drug release process and the therapeutic effect by the combination of fluorescence imaging and bioluminescence imaging. Multispectral fluorescence imaging can separate the drug and the carrier without interference. Herein, a dual fluorescent anti-tumor drug delivery system was monitored with the doxorubicin-loaded hydrogel to further explore the application of the porphyrin-incorporated hydrogel with four-arm PEG-PCL copolymer as a drug carrier, based on the beneficial fluorescence and good biocompatibility of the porphyrin incorporated hydrogel. Using nude mice bearing luciferase expressed hepatic tumor as models, the whole process from the drug delivery to the tumor therapeutic effects were real time visualized simultaneously after administration at interval from 0 to 18 d. The imaging results suggest that the fluorescence signals of the drug and the carrier can be separated and unmixed from the drug-loaded hydrogel successfully, avoiding the interference of the fluorescence signals. The tumor growth or inhibition can be real time tracked and analyzed quantitatively by bioluminescence imaging. Noninvasive continuous tracking the in vivo drug delivery process simultaneously is a potential trend for the precise drug delivery and treatment.

Phthalocyanine incorporated alginate hydrogel with near infrared fluorescence for non-invasive imaging monitoring in vivo

A phthalocyanine incorporated alginate hydrogel with rhodamine was monitored by fluorescence imaging as a dual fluorescent drug delivery system.

Advances in development of fluorescent probes for detecting amyloid-β aggregates

With accumulating evidence suggesting that amyloid-β (Aβ) deposition is a good diagnostic biomarker for Alzheimer's disease (AD), the discovery of active Aβ probes has become an active area of research. Among the existing imaging methods, optical imaging targeting Aβ aggregates (fibrils or oligomers), especially using near-infrared (NIR) fluorescent probes, is increasingly recognized as a promising approach for the early diagnosis of AD due to its real time detection, low cost, lack of radioactive exposure and high-resolution. In the past decade, a variety of fluorescent probes have been developed and tested for efficiency in vitro, and several probes have shown efficacy in AD transgenic mice. This review classifies these representative probes based on their chemical structures and functional modes (dominant solvent-dependent mode and a novel solvent-independent mode). Moreover, the pharmaceutical characteristics of these representative probes are summarized and discussed. This review provides important perspectives for the future development of novel NIR Aβ diagnostic probes.

Quantum dots: bright and versatile in vitro and in vivo fluorescence imaging biosensors

Colourful cells and tissues: semiconductor quantum dots and their versatile applications in multiplexed bioimaging research.