According to foreign media reports, a research team from the Korea Institute of Basic Science's Self-Assembly and Complexity Research Center has recently synthesized a contrast agent that can be used to observe and measure elastin; this protein provides strength to the vessel wall. Provides elasticity to the skin. Fluorescent dyes can help to better understand the role of elastin in biological processes and to verify the health of blood vessels and organs.
Chang Young-Tae, collaborator of the paper, explains: “Because elastin is located in the subcutaneous tissue, it is difficult to visualize it in the existing way; in addition, it is a complex protein because it has various forms and is variable. Chemical bonding, and it is also difficult to make a model for computer learning; for screening purposes, we use a complete elastin to avoid these problems."
Recently, the research team developed a near-infrared (NIR) elastin fluorescent contrast agent called ElaNIR, which is capable of detecting tissue elasticity in living animals. This method uses near-infrared rays with a wavelength of 700-900 nm, which can meet the requirements of elastin due to its excellent skin permeability. ElaNIR is selected from a series of fluorescent molecules that emit near-infrared light. Fluorescent materials tend to adhere to other substances, causing blurred image areas around the target. On the other hand, ElaNIR has the same number of positive and negative charges in the same molecule, minimizing non-specific binding to serum proteins, normal tissues and organs, thus providing a clearer image.
ElaNIR not only emits fluorescence in the near-infrared range, but also observes structures containing elastin by photoacoustic spectroscopy. In photoacoustic imaging, the absorbed light energy is converted into ultrasound, which penetrates the skin more than fluorescence. Therefore, photoacoustic technology can provide higher sensitivity and higher spatial resolution in ElaNIR than fluorescence imaging. With this technology, scientists can acquire 3D tomography by detecting ultrasound generated by absorbed near-infrared light.
Scientists used a cross section of the rabbit aorta to demonstrate the selective binding of ElaNIR to elastin. They then used it to study rat organs with high elastin. EleaNOR highlights elastin in the lungs, skin, bladder, kidneys, aorta and ears.
Finally, ElaNIR was tested on live animals. After intravenous injections into elderly and young mice, the team was able to compare the levels of elastin in the skin of each study group. Compared with young rats, the number of elastin in the elderly group was significantly reduced (1.8 times). The high resolution 3D tomogram obtained using photoacoustic technology visually shows the distribution of elastin. Another feature of ElaNIR is its ability to be quickly removed from the system: over 90% of the injected product can be removed from the blood within four hours.
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