Xinshe Xu

Near-infrared-labeled tetracycline derivative is an effective marker of bone deposition in mice

Bone-specific compounds have been used effectively for the detection of bone mineralization, growth, and morphological changes. These agents typically contain iminodiacetic acid groups that can form complexes with apatite and fluoresce in the visible spectrum. We exploited a subset of these chemical chelators to produce a near-infrared (NIR) optical bone marker for preclinical animal imaging. By conjugating target compounds to IRDye 800CW, we extended the effective fluorescence signal detection to the NIR region without affecting the compounds ability to function as a marker of the mineralization process. Calcein and a tetracycline derivative (BoneTag agent [BT]) bound specifically to differentiated mineralized osteoblast cultures, with the latter exhibiting 6-fold higher signal intensities. Subsequent in vivo testing demonstrated effective skeletal labeling with IRDye 800CW BT. We were able to identify a changing mineralization front in bone sections from (i) normal growing mice injected with IRDye 800CW BT 6weeks prior to the administration of IRDye 680 BT and (ii) an osteoporosis mouse model comparing cortical bone in sham-treated and ovariectomized mice. These results provide evidence that the NIR-labeled BT is effective as a general marker of skeletal features and an indicator of the bone mineralization and remodeling processes.

Development of fluorescent contrast agents for optical imaging of mouse disease models

Optical imaging is a rapidly developing field of research aimed at non-invasively interrogating animals for disease progression, determining the effects of a drug on a particular pathology, assessing the pharmacokinetic behavior of a drug, or identifying molecular biomarkers of disease. One of the key components of molecular imaging is the development of specific, targeted imaging contrast agents to assess these biological processes. The development of robust fluorochrome-labeled optical agents is a process that is often underestimated in terms of its complexity. We describe here the development process and performance issues for three different optical agents: IRDye 800CW EGF (epidermal growth factor), IRDye(R) 800CW 2-DG (2-deoxy D-glucose), and an IRDye 680 BoneTagTM. In vitro competitive assays were developed for two of the markers to demonstrate specificity. Specificity was confirmed in animal studies. Uptake of IRDye 800CW 2-DG was also examined by near-infrared confocal microscopy. Histological examinations were performed on target and non-target tissues following the completion of the imaging studies. The issues unique to the development of each labeled marker are discussed.