NMP4

NMP4 is an organic bacteriochlorin derivative developed as a near-infrared (NIR) fluorescent probe for in vivo imaging. It is excited by a single green light and emits a narrow, well-resolved band in the NIR spectrum at a peak of 739 nm. When conjugated to galactosyl-human serum albumin (hGSA) or glucosyl-human serum albumin (glu-HSA), NMP4 becomes a targeted, activatable, single excitation, multicolor NIR fluorescence probe. These conjugates target H-type lectins, including the β-d-galactose receptor expressed on ovarian cancer cells. The fluorescence of NMP4 is substantially quenched upon conjugation and is reversed after cell binding and internalization, allowing for activatable imaging. In preclinical studies, NMP4 conjugated to hGSA showed higher cancer cell uptake and demonstrated high sensitivity and specificity for imaging disseminated ovarian cancer in mice.