Research on the binding of a new contrast agent to cells [from: Hahnenkamp et al., 2014]. B: The contrast agent binds to cells expressing ETAR. D: The binding sites were blocked with an ETAR antagonist prior to the addition of the contrast agent.

Target-specific and activatable fluorescent tracers

Angiogenesis is a fundamental biological process that plays a major role in both oncogenesis and various cardiovascular diseases, such as myocardial infarction or atherosclerosis. In this project, target-specific fluorescent tracers are being developed and investigated in a wide variety of preclinical models. The primary goal is to visualize vascular target structures relevant to various cardiovascular diseases, e.g., in angiogenesis processes, atherosclerosis, or endothelial dysfunction. Currently, the developed tracers are being further refined with a view to future clinical application. To further improve the signal-to-noise ratio in imaging, we aim to synthesize activatable, target-specific tracers designed to enable the detection of very small lesions. Furthermore, the fluorescent tracers developed in SFB 656 are being combined with clinically available imaging techniques to evaluate their potential for clinical translation. Our tracers are also being tested on human specimens to assess their potential future use as biomarkers.