University of Missouri

Leland Stanford Junior University

Kenneth Hettie

Timothy E Glass

Kevin Gillis

Jessica L Klockow

Frederick T Chin

The present disclosure encompasses embodiments of a novel near-infrared-emitting molecular fluorophore and probes incorporating said fluorophore advantageous for in vitro and in vivo research studies. The fluorophore is robust, photostable, and possesses functionalities for easy bioorthogonal conjugation (e.g., click chemistry, hydrazone formation, Diels Alder, Staudinger ligation, etc.). It is biocompatible and emits at 711 nm in aqueous conditions. These fluorophores may be used to fluorescently tag biological molecules or structures of interest, or used as optical reporters (i.e., activatable molecular probes, fluorescent dyes) for specific biomarkers/analytes as they can be switched from 'off' to 'on.' This fluorophore is useful for cellular assays and preclinical small animal imaging as the near-infrared emission is highly penetrating, and the photophysical properties are outstanding. As such, the properties of this class of fluorophores could easily be translated for use in clinical applications.

Rhodol fluorophores for near-infrared imaging

The invention is provides for a variety of fluorescence sensing compounds characterized generally as having a coumarin-3-aldehyde scaffold with a pendant aryl moiety at the C4-position of the scaffold. The further provides a method for detecting primary amines in a biological sample using said compounds. Especially, for the selective labeling and imaging of catecholamines in live and fixed secretory cells.

Fluorescent chemical sensor for biological amines

A fluorescence sensing compound for separately detecting and visualizing one or more monoamine neurotransmitters in cells, the fluorescence sensing compound having the following formula: 

Near-infrared fluorescent sensors for biological amines

The invention is directed to dual-analyte fluorescent chemosensors for the direct detection and visualization (imaging) of neurotransmitters released upon exocytosis. The inventive sensor exploits the high concentration of neurotransmitters (e.g., glutamate, norepinephrine, and dopamine) and capitalizes upon the pH gradient between the vesicle and synaptic cleft.

Growing community of inventors

Columbia, MO, United States of America

Kenneth Hettie