Fuji Photo Film Company, Limited

Schering Aktiengesellschaft

Bayer Schering Pharma Ag

Hiroaki Eguchi

Yoshio Inagaki

Toru Harada

Naoto Miwa

Masafumi Okumura

Michihito Inagaki

Hiroshi Kitaguchi

Kazuhiro Aikawa

Masayuki Kawakami

Kai Licha

Christin Perlitz

Natsuko Tsuda

The present invention relates to a compound defined by a formula herein, a composition and/or a method relating to one or more of the defined compounds.

Near infrared fluorescent contrast agent and fluorescence imaging

A near infrared fluorescent contrast agent comprising a compound having three or more sulfonic acid groups in a molecule, and a method of fluorescence imaging comprising introducing the near infrared fluorescent contrast agent of the present invention into a living body, exposing the body to an excitation light, and detecting near infrared fluorescence from the contrast agent. The near infrared fluorescent contrast agent of the present invention is excited by an excitation light and emits near infrared fluorescence. This infrared fluorescence is superior in transmission through biological tissues. Thus, detection of lesions in the deep part of a living body has been made possible. In addition, the inventive contrast agent is superior in water solubility and low toxic, and therefore, it can be used safely.

A near infrared fluorescent contrast agent which is excellent in permeability in a living tissue and enables specific imaging of tumor and/or blood vessel, comprising a compound represented by formula (I) or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, wherein R, R, R, and Rrepresent a C-Calkyl group or the like; R, R, R, R, R, R, R, and Rrepresent a hydrogen atom, a C-Calkyl group, an aryl group or the like; Xand Xrepresent a C-Calkyl group or an aryl group and Xand Xin total have 0 to 4 carboxyl groups; m, m, and mrepresents 0 or 1; Lto Lindependently represent a methine group; M represents a hydrogen atom, a metal, or a quaternary ammonium salt; and n represents an integer of 1 to 7 necessary for neutralizing charge.

Near infrared fluorescent contrast agent and method for fluorescence imaging

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Hyogo, Japan

Hiroaki Eguchi