RNA aptamer probes as optical imaging agents for the detection of amyloid plaques.

ABSTRACT: Optical imaging using multiphoton microscopy and whole body near infrared imaging has become a routine part of biomedical research. However, optical imaging methods rely on the availability of either small molecule reporters or genetically encoded fluorescent proteins, which are challenging and time consuming to develop. While directly labeled antibodies can also be used as imaging agents, antibodies are species specific, can typically not be tagged with multiple fluorescent reporters without interfering with target binding, and are bioactive, almost always eliciting a biological response and thereby influencing the process that is being studied. We examined the possibility of developing highly specific and sensitive optical imaging agents using aptamer technology. We developed a fluoresce

SUBMITTER: Farrar CT 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3935954 | biostudies-literature | 2014

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature