Analysis of Fluorescence Decay Kinetics of Indocyanine Green Monomers and Aggregates in Brain Tumor Model In Vivo

Abstract

Spectroscopic approach with fluorescence time resolution allows one to determine the state of a brain tumor and its microenvironment via changes in the fluorescent dye’s fluorescence lifetime. Indocyanine green (ICG) is an acknowledged infra-red fluorescent dye that self-assembles into stable aggregate forms (ICG NPs). ICG NPs aggregates have a tendency to accumulate in the tumor with a maximum accumulation at 24 h after systemic administration, enabling extended intraoperative diagnostic. Fluorescence lifetime analysis of ICG and ICG NPs demonstrates different values for ICG monomers and H-aggregates, indicating promising suitability for fluorescent diagnostics of brain tumors due to their affinity to tumor cells and stability in biological tissue.

Nanomaterials for Drug Delivery and Cancer Therapy

“…The fifth paper, by Dina Farrakhova and co-workers, presents experimental evidence of a new spectroscopic approach to determine the state of a brain tumor and its microenvironment via changes in the fluorescence lifetime of Indocyanine Green (IG) [ 9 ]. In particular, IG accumulated in the tumor site with a maximum accumulation at 24 h after systemic administration and led to different values of fluorescence lifetimes for ICG and ICG aggregates, indicating promising suitability for the fluorescent diagnosis of brain tumors.…”