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Fluorescence diffuse optical tomography (f-DOT) is an imaging technique that can quantify the spatial distribution of fluorescent tracers in small animals and human soft tissues. Efficacy of f-DOT imaging can be improved by tagging a functional group to the dye. A novel estrogen receptor (ER) specific near-infrared (NIR) fluorescent dye conjugate was synthesized which can be effectively used for detecting breast cancer tissues at an early stage. Our novel dye, Near Infrared Dye Conjugate-2 (NIRDC-2), is a conjugate of 17β-estradiol with an analogue of Indocyanine Green dye, bis1,1-(4-sulfobutyl) indotricarbocyanine-5-carboxylic acid, sodium salt. Our present study focuses on imaging cylindrical silicone phantoms using Frequency Domain f-DOT system. Background absorption and scattering coefficients were 0.01mm-1 and 1mm-1 respectively. 10μM concentration of NIRDC-2 and Indocyanine Green (ICG) were administered separately into a cylindrical hole (target) of size 8mm diameter in the phantom. In-silico studies were performed to analyze the properties of dyes using experimental data. Absorption coefficient of 0.0002 mm-1 was recovered for the background. Fluorophore absorption coefficient at the target recovered were 0.000173 mm-1 and 0.000408 mm-1 for ICG and NIRDC-2 respectively. In comparison with ICG, our novel dye had a two fold higher target to background contrast. Recovered target position was accurate but size altered. In concurrence with the recovered fluorescent property and the cell lines studies carried out earlier, binding properties of NIRDC-2 makes it a potential probe for the early tumor detection using f-DOT system.
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