This technology is a class of fluorescent probes that can be completely and selectively deactivated under mild, tissue-preserving conditions in order to improve the quality and expand the capabilities of multiplex imaging.
Multiplex imaging, the process of sequentially imaging a single biological sample with multiple probes, requires deactivation (destaining) of probes between rounds of staining. However, the probes currently used for multiplex imaging suffer from several issues. These probes cannot be selectively destained without destaining other probes in the system. Additionally, removal of these probes requires harsh reagents that can damage the sample. Even with this harsh treatment, some probes are not able to be completely removed, leading to residual background fluorescence.
The fluorescent probes described by this technology are conjugated proteins that label specific targets in the sample. The use of disulfide bonds to link the antibody with the fluorescent protein prevents irreversible bond formation, such that complete deactivation of the probes is achieved using mild, tissue-preserving reagents. Furthermore, a shielded fluorophore prevents the protein from forming non-cleavable covalent bonds with the sample. This technology, therefore, maintains sample quality throughout successive rounds of staining in multiplex imaging experiments.
This technology has been demonstrated to successfully image destained samples without residual signal and is being further developed with in vitro studies.
IR CU15270
Licensing Contact: Cynthia Lang