Amyloid-β Deposits Target Efficient Near-Infrared Fluorescent Probes: Synthesis, in Vitro Evaluation, and in Vivo Imaging

The formation of extracellular amyloid-beta (A beta) plaques is a common molecular change that underlies several debilitating human conditions, including Alzheimer's disease (AD); however, the existing near-infrared (NIR) fluorescent probes for the in vivo detection of A beta plaques are limited by undesirable fluorescent properties and poor brain kinetics. In this work, we designed, synthesized, and evaluated a new family of efficient NIR probes that target A beta plaques by incorporating hydroxyethyl groups into the ligand structure. Among these probes, DANIR 8c showed excellent fluorescent properties with an emission maximum above 670 nm upon binding to A beta aggregates and also displayed a high sensitivity (a 629-fold increase in fluorescence intensity) and affinity (K-d = 14.5 nM). Because of the improved hydrophilicity that was induced by hydroxyls, 8c displayed increased initial brain uptake and a fast washout from the brain, as well as an acceptable biostability in the brain. In vivo NIR fluorescent imaging revealed that 8c could efficiently distinguish between AD transgenic model mice and normal controls. Overall, 8c is an efficient and veritable NIR fluorescent probe for the in vivo detection of A beta plaques in the brain.