Quantitatively visualizing the activity of MMP-2 enzyme in vivo using a ratiometric photoacoustic probe

In this chapter, we describe the recent progress in development of small-molecule probes for quantitatively imaging of matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2) activity in living mice. We provide the detailed protocols for synthesis, characterization, and validation of a new multimodal probe QC with the near-infrared (NIR), single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT), and photoacoustic (PA) imaging capabilities for accurate and quantitative detection of MMP-2 in vivo. We believe that this probe developed in our research group would offer a useful tool for precise evaluation of tumor metastasis as well as therapeutic efficacy.