Role of Fluorophores in Cancer Cell Imaging: A Comprehensive Review

Abstract

Fluorescence-based molecular imaging is one of the effective methods for imaging cellular and molecular biomarkers of cancer. The process involves absorbing light of a particular wavelength by the fluorophore and emission of light with higher wavelength, which helps to visualize labeled structures or molecular targets against the background. Based on their characteristics, different fluorophores can be used for labeling antibodies, proteins, nucleic acid, receptors, and various other biological targets. Some of the types of fluorophores with advantages for imaging include organic dyes, biological fluorophores, fluorescent proteins, and quantum dots. For cancer research, various types of targeted and activatable probes have been studied for identifying HER2-positive breast cancer, folate-receptor expressing tumours, viable cancer cells in acidic compartments inside cells, receptor tyrosine kinases, EGFR positive tumors, and COX-2 mediated effects in cancer cells. In some cases, near infrared fluorescence can reduce tissue autofluorescence and increase the contrast in in vivo imaging. Nevertheless, issues like specificity, tissue penetration, clearance, photostability, and toxicity need consideration. This paper presents a summary of fluorophores in cancer cell imaging based on the supplied source document.