Quality analysis of in vivo near-infrared fluorescence and conventional gamma images acquired using a dual-labeled tumor-targeting probe

Lymphatic imaging in humans with near-infrared fluorescence

While the lymphatic system is increasingly associated with diseases of prevalence, study of these diseases is difficult owing to the paucity of imaging techniques with the sensitivity and temporal resolution to discriminate lymphatic function. Herein, we review the known, pertinent features of the human lymphatic system in health and disease and set the context for a number of emerging studies that use near-infrared fluorescence imaging to non-invasively assess tumor draining lymphatic basins in cancer patients, intraoperatively guide resection of first draining lymph nodes, and to interrogate the difference between normal and aberrant lymphatic structure and function.

In-vivo fluorescence imaging of mammalian organs using charge-assembled mesocapsule constructs containing indocyanine green

Indocyanine green (ICG) is a fluorescent probe used in clinical imaging. However, its utility remains limited by optical instability, rapid circulation kinetics, and exclusive uptake by the liver. Using mesocapsule (MC) constructs to encapsulate ICG, we have developed a technology to stabilize ICG's optical properties and alter its biodistribution. We present in vivo fluorescence images of mammalian organs to demonstrate the potential application of our ICG encapsulation technology for optical imaging of specific tissues.

In vivo fluorescent optical imaging of cytotoxic T lymphocyte migration using IRDye800CW near-infrared dye

We describe a method to measure in vivo migration of human T cells by using the near-infrared (NIR) dye IRDye800CW. Labeling of Epstein-Barr virus-specific T cells with IRDye800CW did not affect viability, proliferation, or T cell function. Following tail vein injection into mice bearing subcutaneous tumors, the NIR signal could be measured in vivo at the tumor site. Analysis of tumors revealed T cell infiltration and an increased NIR signal, confirming T cell migration. To test specific migration with IRDye800CW, tumors were modified to express CCL5 to measure site-specific migration. The NIR signal was increased at CCL5-secreting tumors compared with control tumors. Together, these data suggest that IRDye800CW may be used to study the trafficking of T cells in a small animal model and may have potential as a short-term reporter molecule for human immunotherapy studies.

Anatomical and molecular imaging of skin cancer

Skin cancer is the most common form of cancer types. It is generally divided into two categories: melanoma (∼ 5%) and nonmelanoma (∼ 95%), which can be further categorized into basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma, and some rare skin cancer types. Biopsy is still the gold standard for skin cancer evaluation in the clinic. Various anatomical imaging techniques have been used to evaluate different types of skin cancer lesions, including laser scanning confocal microscopy, optical coherence tomography, high-frequency ultrasound, terahertz pulsed imaging, magnetic resonance imaging, and some other recently developed techniques such as photoacoustic microscopy. However, anatomical imaging alone may not be sufficient in guiding skin cancer diagnosis and therapy. Over the last decade, various molecular imaging techniques (in particular single photon emission computed tomography and positron emission tomography) have been investigated for skin cancer imaging. The pathways or molecular targets that have been studied include glucose metabolism, integrin α_vβ₃, melanocortin-1 receptor, high molecular weight melanoma-associated antigen, and several other molecular markers. Preclinical molecular imaging is thriving all over the world, while clinical molecular imaging has not lived up to the expectations because of slow bench-to-bedside translation. It is likely that this situation will change in the near future and molecular imaging will truly play an important role in personalized medicine of melanoma patients.

New horizons for imaging lymphatic function

In this review, we provide a comprehensive summary of noninvasive imaging modalities used clinically for the diagnosis of lymphatic diseases, new imaging agents for assessing lymphatic architecture and cancer status of lymph nodes, and emerging near-infrared (NIR) fluorescent optical imaging technologies and agents for functional lymphatic imaging. Given the promise of NIR optical imaging, we provide example results of functional lymphatic imaging in mice, swine, and humans, showing the ability of this technology to quantify lymph velocity and frequencies of propulsion resulting from the contractility of lymphatic structures.

Molecular imaging with optics: primer and case for near-infrared fluorescence techniques in personalized medicine

We compare and contrast the development of optical molecular imaging techniques with nuclear medicine with a didactic emphasis for initiating readers into the field of molecular imaging. The nuclear imaging techniques of gamma scintigraphy, single-photon emission computed tomography, and positron emission tomography are first briefly reviewed. The molecular optical imaging techniques of bioluminescence and fluorescence using gene reporter/probes and gene reporters are described prior to introducing the governing factors of autofluorescence and excitation light leakage. The use of dual-labeled, near-infrared excitable and radio-labeled agents are described with comparative measurements between planar fluorescence and nuclear molecular imaging. The concept of time-independent and -dependent measurements is described with emphasis on integrating time-dependent measurements made in the frequency domain for 3-D tomography. Finally, we comment on the challenges and progress for translating near-infrared (NIR) molecular imaging agents for personalized medicine.

Near infrared fluorescent optical imaging for nodal staging

Current techniques to assess lymph node metastases in cancer patients include lymphoscintigraphy after administration of a nonspecific radiocolloid in order to locate and resect lymph nodes for pathological examination of harbored cancer cells. Clinical trials involving intradermal or subcutaneous injection of antibody-based nuclear imaging agents have demonstrated the feasibility for target-specific, molecular imaging of cancer-positive lymph nodes. The basis for employing near-infrared (NIR) optical imaging for assessing disease is evidenced by recent work showing functional lymph imaging in mice, swine, and humans. We review antibody-based immunolymphoscintigraphy with an emphasis on the use of trastuzumab (or Herceptin) to target human epidermal growth factor receptor-2 (HER2) overexpressed in some breast cancers. Specifically, we review in vitro and preclinical imaging data from our laboratory that show how the dual-labeled agent ((111)In-DTPA)(n)-trastuzumab-(IRDye800)(m) utilizes the high photon count provided by an NIR fluorescent dye, IRDye 800CW, and the radioactive signal from a gamma emitter, Indium-111, for possible detection of HER2 metastasis in lymph nodes. We show that the accumulation and clearance of ((111)In-DTPA)(n)-trastuzumab-(IRDye800)(m) from the axillary nodes of mice occurs 48 h after intradermal injection into the dorsal aspect of the foot. The requirement for long clearance times from normal, cancer-negative nodes presents challenges for nuclear imaging agents with limited half-lives but does not hamper NIR optical imaging.

Synthesis of 64Cu-labeled magnetic nanoparticles for multimodal imaging

Complementary imaging modalities provide more information than either method alone can yield and we have developed a dual-mode imaging probe for combined magnetic resonance (MR) and positron emission tomography (PET) imaging. We have developed dual-mode PET/MRI active probes targeted to vascular inflammation and present synthesis of (1) an aliphatic amine polystyrene bead and (2) a novel superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticle targeted to macrophages that were both coupled to positron-emitting copper-64 isotopes. The amine groups of the polystyrene beads were directly conjugated with an amine-reactive form (isothiocyanate) of aza-macrocycle 1,4,7,10-tetraazacyclo-dodecane-1,4,7,10-tetraacetic acid (DOTA). Iron oxide nanoparticles are dextran sulfate coated, and the surface was modified to contain aldehyde groups to conjugate to an amine-activated DOTA. Incorporation of chelated Cu-64 to nanoparticles under these conditions, which is routinely used to couple DOTA to macromolecules, was unexpectedly difficult and illustrates that traditional conjugation methods do not always work in a nanoparticle environment. Therefore, we developed new methods to couple Cu-64 to nanoparticles and demonstrate successful labeling to a range of nanoparticle types. We obtained labeling yields of 24% for the amine polystyrene beads and 21% radiolabeling yield for the anionic dextran sulfate iron oxide nanoparticles. The new coupling chemistry can be generalized for attaching chelated metals to other nanoparticle platforms.

Radiative transport-based frequency-domain fluorescence tomography

We report the development of radiative transport model-based fluorescence optical tomography from frequency-domain boundary measurements. The coupled radiative transport model for describing NIR fluorescence propagation in tissue is solved by a novel software based on the established Attila particle transport simulation platform. The proposed scheme enables the prediction of fluorescence measurements with non-contact sources and detectors at a minimal computational cost. An adjoint transport solution-based fluorescence tomography algorithm is implemented on dual grids to efficiently assemble the measurement sensitivity Jacobian matrix. Finally, we demonstrate fluorescence tomography on a realistic computational mouse model to locate nM to microM fluorophore concentration distributions in simulated mouse organs.

Agonist-antagonist dilemma in molecular imaging: evaluation of a monomolecular multimodal imaging agent for the somatostatin receptor

The combination of different imaging modalities, each providing information according to its strengths, can be a powerful method for diagnosing diseases. We have synthesized a monomolecular multimodal imaging agent (MOMIA), LS172, containing a subtype-2 somatostatin receptor (SSTr2)-avid peptide (Y3-octreotate or Y3-TATE), a radiometal chelating group (DOTA) and a near-infrared (NIR) fluorescent dye (cypate). In addition to optical methods, radiolabeling LS172 with 64Cu and 177Lu provides a strategy for in vitro evaluation or in vivo multimodal imaging by positron emission tomography (PET) and single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT), respectively. Determination of the binding affinity of LS172, nat Cu- and nat Lu-LS172 in SSTr2-transfected A427 cells (A427-7) showed that they all displayed high binding affinity toward SSTr2 with K i values of 0.234 nM, 11.5 nM, and 2.15 nM respectively. In contrast to cypate-labeled Y3-TATE (cytate), fluorescence microscopy showed that LS172 and nat Cu-LS172 accumulate modestly in A427-7 cells by SSTr2-mediated endocytosis, in spite of their relatively high binding affinity. In vivo, the biodistribution of the SSTr2 receptor specific 64Cu- and 177Lu-LS172 in AR42J tumor-bearing rats exhibited low (<or=1% ID/g) accumulation in tumor tissue. Clearance from circulation was predominantly hepatobiliary (>90% ID/liver). Both optical and radionuclear biodistribution studies showed a similar in vivo distribution profile. Surprisingly, the strong binding of LS172 to SSTr2 did not translate into high SSTr2-mediated endocytosis in cells or uptake in tumor in vivo. Considering that LS172 is a putative antagonist, the poor accumulation of the labeled MOMIAs in SSTr2 positive tumor tissue supports the paradigm that agonists with their concomitant internalization favors appreciable target tissue accumulation of receptor-specific ligands.

Multimodal nanoprobes for radionuclide and five-color near-infrared optical lymphatic imaging

Current contrast agents generally have one function and can only be imaged in monochrome; therefore, the majority of imaging methods can only impart uniparametric information. A single nanoparticle has the potential to be loaded with multiple payloads. Such multimodality probes have the ability to be imaged by more than one imaging technique, which could compensate for the weakness or even combine the advantages of each individual modality. Furthermore, optical imaging using different optical probes enables us to achieve multicolor in vivo imaging, wherein multiple parameters can be read from a single image. To allow differentiation of multiple optical signals in vivo, each probe should have a close but different near-infrared emission. To this end, we synthesized nanoprobes with multimodal and multicolor potential, which employed a polyamidoamine dendrimer platform linked to both radionuclides and optical probes, permitting dual-modality scintigraphic and five-color near-infrared optical lymphatic imaging using a multiple-excitation spectrally resolved fluorescence imaging technique.

Comparison of visible and near-infrared wavelength-excitable fluorescent dyes for molecular imaging of cancer

Targeted fluorescent molecular imaging probes may provide an optimal means of detecting disease. Stable, organic fluorophores can be repeatedly excited in vivo by propagated light and consequentially can provide large signal-to-noise ratios (SNRs) for image detection of target tissues. In the literature, many small animal imaging studies are performed with a red excitable dye, Cy5.5, conjugated to the targeting component. We report the comparison of the in vivo fluorescent imaging performance of a near-IR (NIR) and a red-excitable dye. Epidermal growth factor (EGF) was conjugated with Cy5.5 [excitation/emission (ex/em), 660710 nm] or IRDye 800CW (ex/em: 785830 nm) for imaging EGF receptor (EGFr) positive (MDA-MB-468) and/or negative (MDA-MB-435) human breast cancer cell lines in subcutaneous xenograft models. The conjugates were injected intravenously at 1-nmol-dye equivalent with and without anti-EGFr monoclonal antibody C225, preadministered 24 h prior as a competitive ligand to EGFr. Our images show that while both agents target EGFr, the EGF-IRDye 800CW evidenced a significantly reduced background and enhanced the tumor-to-background ratio (TBR) compared to the EGF-Cy5.5. Immunohistochemistry shows that EGF causes activation of the EGFr signaling pathway, suggesting that prior to use as a targeting, diagnostic agent, potential deleterious effects should be considered.

Optical pretargeting of tumor with fluorescent MORF oligomers

OBJECTIVE

Pretargeting with radioactivity has significantly improved tumor to normal tissue radioactivity ratios over conventional antibody imaging in both animal studies and clinical trials. This laboratory is investigating DNA analogues such as phosphorodiamidate morpholinos (MORFs) for pretargeting using technetium-99m ((99m)Tc) for detection. However, the unique properties of fluorescence activation and quenching combined with oligomers with their unique properties of hybridization may be particularly useful when used together for pretargeting with optical detection. The use of linear fluorophore-conjugated oligomer duplexes have been little used in animals, and to our knowledge, have not previously been considered for pretargeting applications.

METHODS

A MORF/cDNA pair was selected such that when hybridized, the fluorescence of the Cy5.5-conjugated 25 mer MORF (Cy5.5-MORF25) is inhibited with a BHQ3-conjugated 18 mer complementary DNA (BHQ3-cDNA18). The short BHQ3-cDNA18 was selected to dissociate in the presence of a long cMORF25 in the pretargeted tumor, thus releasing the inhibitor from the Cy5.5 emitter. In this manner, the Cy5.5 fluorescence will be inhibited everywhere but in the target. The dissociation was first examined in vitro by adding the duplex to the cMORF25 both in solution and immobilized on polystyrene microspheres and by surface plasmon resonance (SPR). Thereafter, biotinylated cMORF25 immobilized on streptavidin polystyrene microspheres were administered intramuscularly in one thigh of hairless SKH-1 mice as target while an identical weight of the identical microspheres but without the cMORF25 was administered in the contralateral thigh as control. The animals then received IV the Cy5.5-MORF25/BHQ3-cDNA18 duplex or equal molar dosage of single-chain Cy5.5-MORF25 and were imaged.

RESULTS

The SPR studies showed that the immobilized cDNA18 rapidly captured the flowing MORF25 to provide a duplex with a slow dissociation rate constant. Furthermore, when cMORF25 was next allowed to flow over the now immobilized duplex, the cDNA18 was unable to prevent dissociation of the heteroduplex and the formation and release of the cMORF25-MORF25 homoduplex. Images of animals obtained soon after receiving the Cy5.5-MORF25 singlet showed intense whole body fluorescence obscuring the target thigh. However, only 5 minutes after receiving the Cy5.5-MORF25/BHQ3-cDNA18 duplex, the target thigh was clearly visible along with only the kidneys.

CONCLUSIONS

This first study of optical pretargeting provides a proof of concept that oligomer pretargeting found to be useful with radioactivity detection is applicable with fluorescent detection as well. In addition, our results demonstrate that by using linear oligomers for optical pretargeting, chain lengths (and base sequences) may be manipulated to provide duplexes with stabilities and fluorescence inhibition optimized for pretargeting and other in vivo applications of optical imaging.

A new optical and nuclear dual-labeled imaging agent targeting interleukin 11 receptor alpha-chain

Optical imaging has great potential for studying molecular recognitions both in vivo and in vitro, yet nuclear imaging is the most effective clinical molecular imaging modality. The combination of optical and nuclear imaging modalities may provide complementary information for improving diagnosis and management of diseases. In this study we developed an optical and nuclear dual-labeled imaging agent, 111In-DTPA-Bz-NH-SA-K(IR-783-S-Ph-CO)-c(CGRRAGGSC)NH2, called DLIA-IL11Ralpha. 111In-DTPA-Bz-NH-SA is the radiotracer moiety; a near-infrared dye IR-783-S-Ph-COOH serves as the fluorescent emitter; and the cyclic peptide c(CGRRAGGSC), which is known to target interleukin 11 receptor alpha-chain (IL-11Ralpha), delivers the desired imaging agent to its target. Experiments revealed that the cyclic peptide c(CGRRAGGSC) continued to possess the targeting capability to IL-11Ralpha after the conjugation of the optical and nuclear tracers. Furthermore, the presence of the metal isotope chelator did not cause quenching of fluorescence emission. The cross validation and direct comparison of optical and nuclear imaging of a tumor was achieved using a single injection, and the preliminary results show the conjugate has tumor targeting capabilities in vivo.

Quantitative imaging of lymph function

Functional lymphatic imaging was demonstrated in the abdomen and anterior hindlimb of anesthetized, intact Yorkshire swine by using near-infrared (NIR) fluorescence imaging following intradermal administration of 100-200 microl of 32 microM indocyanine green (ICG) and 64 microM hyaluronan NIR imaging conjugate to target the lymph vascular endothelial receptor (LYVE)-1 on the lymph endothelium. NIR fluorescence imaging employed illumination of 780 nm excitation light ( approximately 2 mW/cm(2)) and collection of 830 nm fluorescence generated from the imaging agents. Our results show the ability to image the immediate trafficking of ICG from the plexus, through the vessels and lymphangions, and to the superficial mammary, subiliac, and middle iliac lymph nodes, which were located as deep as 3 cm beneath the tissue surface. "Packets" of ICG-transited lymph vessels of 2-16 cm length propelled at frequencies of 0.5-3.3 pulses/min and velocities of 0.23-0.75 cm/s. Lymph propulsion was independent of respiration rate. In the case of the hyaluronan imaging agent, lymph propulsion was absent as the dye progressed immediately through the plexus and stained the lymph vessels and nodes. Lymph imaging required 5.0 and 11.9 microg of ICG and hyaluronan conjugate, respectively. Our results suggest that microgram quantities of NIR optical imaging agents and their conjugates have a potential to image lymph function in patients suffering from lymph-related disorders.

Dual optical and nuclear imaging in human melanoma xenografts using a single targeted imaging probe

INTRODUCTION

Dual-labeled imaging agents that allow both nuclear and optical imaging after a single injection would be advantageous in certain applications. In this study, we synthesized and characterized a dual-labeled RGD (Arg-Gly-Asp) peptide and compared nuclear and optical images obtained with this agent.

METHODS

111In-DTPA-Lys(IRDye800)-c(KRGDf) composed of both the 111In chelator diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid (DTPA) and the near-infrared (NIR) fluorescent dye IRDye800 (excitation/emission, 765/792 nm) was synthesized. The probe was characterized with regard to in vitro biological activity and in vivo pharmacokinetics and the ability to target integrin alphavbeta3. Tumors of mice injected with the dual-labeled probe were imaged both by gamma scintigraphy and NIR fluorescence optical camera.

RESULTS

DTPA-Lys(IRDye800)-c(KRGDf), DTPA-Lys-c(KRGDf) and c(KRGDf) inhibited the adhesion of melanoma M21 cells to vitronectin-coated surface with the similar biological activity. Both 111In-DTPA-Lys(IRDye800)-c(KRGDf) and 111In-DTPA-Lys-c(KRGDf) had significantly higher uptakes in alphavbeta3-positive M21 melanoma than in alphavbeta3-negative M21-L melanoma at 4-48 h after their injection. Side-by-side comparison of images obtained using 111In-DTPA-Lys(IRDye800)-c(KRGDf) revealed that in living mice, both optical imaging and gamma scintigraphy enabled noninvasive detection of the bound probe to alphavbeta3-positive tumors, with optical images providing improved resolution and sensitive detection of the superficial lesions and gamma images providing sensitive detection of deeper structures.

CONCLUSION

The dual-labeled imaging probe 111In-DTPA-Lys(IRDye800)-c(KRGDf) was found to specifically bind to alphavbeta3 in melanoma tumor cells. Employing both nuclear and optical imaging with a single imaging probe may facilitate translation of NIR fluorescence optical imaging into clinical applications.

Hyaluronidase expression induces prostate tumor metastasis in an orthotopic mouse model

Molecular mechanisms of prostate cancer progression are frequently studied in mice by orthotopic injection of aggressive cell lines, which yield primary tumors that spontaneously metastasize to lymph nodes. In this report, we characterized the human prostate carcinoma cell line 22Rv1 in an orthotopic system and evaluated the functional relevance of the hyaluronidase Hyal1, a correlate of invasive human prostate cancer, to progression in this model. To provide real-time insights into these processes, we first validated use of an epidermal growth factor-conjugated fluorophore to illuminate orthotopic prostate tumors and their metastases in whole animal imaging. Animals receiving intraprostatic injections were tracked throughout a 6-week period. Tumor sizes were correlated 92% with total fluorescence intensities of 22 prostate tumors. In contrast to the highly tumorigenic and metastatic PC3M-LN4 cells, the 22Rv1 line was orthotopically tumorigenic but not metastatic, despite larger tumor sizes. Lymph node metastasis was successfully imaged in animals with PC3M-LN4 tumors on endpoint dissection. Stable transfection of 22Rv1 cells with Hyal1 did not alter growth kinetics of primary orthotopic tumors, but all animals implanted with Hyal1 transfectants exhibited tumor-positive para-aortic lymph nodes. Hyal1 is implicated as an inducer of prostate cancer metastatic progression.

Influence of excitation light rejection on forward model mismatch in optical tomography

Fluorescence enhanced tomography for molecular imaging requires low background for detection and accurate image reconstruction. In this contribution, we show that excitation light leakage is responsible for elevated background and can be minimized with the use of gradient index (GRIN) lenses when using fibre optics to collect propagated fluorescence light from tissue or other biological media. We show that the model mismatch between frequency-domain photon migration (FDPM) measurements and the diffusion approximation prediction is decreased when GRIN lenses are placed prior to the interference filters to provide efficient excitation light rejection. Furthermore, model mismatch is correlated to the degree of excitation light leakage. This work demonstrates the importance of proper light filtering when designing fluorescence optical imaging and tomography.