Imaging and sensing in living cells using dual modality fluorescent PET imaging agents

The project will involve the design of new ruthenium-based probes for targeted medical imaging using both fluorescence and PET modalities. The detection of CO in living cells will also be investigated. Positron Emission Tomography (PET) is a powerful technique, used particularly in oncology, which allows three-dimensional imaging of tissue deep in the body (2 million scans in the US each year). However, substantial infrastructure is required for (often short-lived) radioisotope generation. Incorporating fluorescence within the same agent allows imaging through the emission of visible light to indicate the location of the agent. Adding targeting units to the probe ensures high selectivity for tumours, thus creating a targeted, dual modality agent for the imaging of cancer. Importantly, this will allow visualisation of the tumour site before (PET) and, once radiation is no longer present, during surgery (using the fluorescence). Precursors to these agents will also be used to detect endogenous CO as a marker of disease.