Imaging

Molecular probes - Peptides have high diversity, and can achieve high specificity with binding affinities on the nanomolar scale. This probe platform has flexibility to be labeled with a broad range of fluorophores, and is inexpensive to produce in large quantities. We used topical application to deliver the peptides to the mucosal surface in high concentration to maximize target interactions and achieve rapid binding with minimal risk for toxicity. Compared with systemic delivery, this approach localizes distribution of the exogenous imaging agent to the target tissues only, minimizes background, and maximizes image contrast. These features of peptides are well suited for clinical use in high volume procedures.

Imaging platforms - Optical imaging techniques can provide the speed and resolution needed to observe cellular and molecular events in real time. Other methods of in vivo imaging, including ultrasound, CT, MRI, and PET lack the spatial resolution and temporal speed needed to visualize lesions that are flat in appearance and patchy in distribution. Non-optical imaging modalities have limited ability to visualize multiple targets concurrently in real time. New method of optical imaging that can image in multiple fluorescence channels simultaneously (multiplexing) can significantly improve our ability to image the epithelium for early detection of disease in hollow organs, including biliary tract, colon, esophagus, lung, pancreas, and stomach.