Activatable 19F MRI probe for detection of α-amylase activity

Abstract

Abstract α-Amylase is an endo-type glycoside hydrolase and has drawn attention as a biomarker of various diseases. However, current detection methods rely on colorimetric and fluorometric approaches, which limits imaging in deep tissues. In this research, we developed an activatable probe, Tfb-G6-Gd, for detecting α-amylase using 19F MRI. In the presence of α-amylase, the 19F MRI signal of Tfb-G6-Gd increased by attenuation of paramagnetic relaxation enhancement effect. This probe showed a switching ability depending on α-amylase activity with high specificity.