New metal-free molecules glow deep red in water and boost MRI contrast in test images
Bioimaging technologies, such as fluorescence imaging (FI) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), are powerful tools in basic research and clinical medicine. But they have drawbacks. FI allows researchers to visualize cells and other biological processes at high resolution, but it lacks imaging depth. MRI can capture images deep within the body, but it lacks the single-cell resolution provided by…
Researchers at Kyushu University have developed a new metal-free molecule that can be detected by fluorescence imaging (FI) and used as an MRI contrast agent, potentially offering safer and less toxic alternatives to current imaging agents. The challenge in creating such a molecule lies in the differing functional mechanisms of FI and MRI, which necessitated a focus on luminescent organic radicals that can produce both fluorescence and molecular spin.
The team optimized a molecule called tris(2,4,6-trichlorophenyl) methyl (TTM) to make it water-soluble and improve its fluorescence activity, resulting in two new molecules, TTM-trisTP3B and TTM-trisTP9B. These molecules exhibit deep-red fluorescence in water and significantly enhance MRI contrast, suggesting potential applications in bioimaging, basic research, and medical diagnostics. Further animal studies are needed to validate the viability of these molecules.
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