Compounds useful as contrast agents in image-guided surgery are provided. The compounds comprise a latent cationic lysosomotropic fragment that is detectable upon cleavage by lysosomal proteases within treated tissues, particularly within tumors and other diseased tissues. Also provided are compositions comprising the compounds and methods for using the compounds, for example in dynamically monitoring protease activity in vivo during image-guided tumor resection surgery.

Provided are any one of the following compounds and a fluorescently labeled biological substance having this compound.

##STR00001##

R.sup.1 to R.sup.27, L.sup.11, L.sup.12, and X.sup.+ represent a specific group, and at least one of R.sup.1 to R.sup.4 represents a substituted alkyl group.

In a case where at least one of R.sup.1 to R.sup.4 is an alkyl group having a carboxy group or a substituent capable of being bonded to a biological substance, at least one of R.sup.11 to R.sup.27 is an alkyl group or an aryl group, or at least one of R.sup.1 to R.sup.4, which does not correspond to the alkyl group having a carboxy group or an alkyl group having a substituent capable of being bonded to a biological substance, is an alkyl group having a sulfoalkyl group through a single bond or a linking group.

The total of n1 to n4 is an integer of 3 or more, and m=n1+n2+n3+n4−1 is satisfied.

At least one of R.sup.1 to R.sup.4, R.sup.13, L.sup.11 or L.sup.12 in Formula (1) and at least one of R.sup.1 to R.sup.4, R.sup.24, L.sup.11, or L.sup.12 in Formula (2) have a specific substituent.

The present invention provides dichromic fluorescent compounds, as well as processes for making and methods for using the dichromic fluorescent compounds.

The present invention relates to the field of optical imaging More particularly, it relates to compounds of the cyanine family characterized by improved physico-chemical and biological properties and to their conjugates with biological ligands thereof. The invention also relates to the use of these compounds as optical diagnostic agents in imaging or therapy of solid tumors, to the methods for their preparation and to the compositions comprising them.

The invention provides fluorescent probes having the general formula (I)

##STR00001##

wherein X, Y, L and R.sup.1 to R.sup.4 are as described herein, compositions including the compounds, processes of manufacturing the compounds and methods of using the compounds.

The present invention relates to near-infrared-absorbing dye-based composite particles which exhibit a photothermal effect and/or photoacoustic signal upon photoirradiation, a preparation method thereof, and a use thereof. The near-infrared-absorbing composite particles comprise: a water-insoluble salt of a near-infrared-absorbing dye, which comprises anions of the near-infrared-absorbing dye and metal cations capable of forming a precipitation product with the anions of the near-infrared-absorbing dye; and particles of a polymeric surfactant, in which a water-insoluble salt of the near-infrared-absorbing dye is supported in the hydrophobic part of the polymeric surfactant.

The invention provides agents that target carbonic anhydrase, which can be used as imaging agents or therapeutic agents. The agents can be used to image tumor hypoxia as well as other physiological processes in a subject.

The instant invention provides near-infrared fluorescent biological contrast agents and methods of using them.

A composition includes two or more near infrared absorbing compounds having an absorption maximum in a wavelength range of 650 to 1000 nm and having a solubility of 0.1 mass % or lower in water at 23° C., in which the two or more near infrared absorbing compounds include a first near infrared absorbing compound having an absorption maximum in a wavelength range of 650 to 1000 nm, and a second near infrared absorbing compound having an absorption maximum in a wavelength range of 650 to 1000 nm which is shorter than the absorption maximum of the first near infrared absorbing compound, and a difference between the absorption maximum of the first near infrared absorbing compound and the absorption maximum of the second near infrared absorbing compound is 1 to 150 nm.

Glucose-sensing luminescent dyes, polymers, and sensors are provided. Additionally, systems including the sensors and methods of using these sensors and systems are provided.