Fluorescence lifetime imaging to differentiate bound from unbound ICG-cRGD both in vitro and in vivo

Excision of the whole tumor is crucial, but remains difficult for many tumor types. Fluorescence lifetime imaging could be helpful intraoperative to differentiate normal from tumor tissue. In this study we investigated the difference in fluorescence lifetime imaging of indocyanine green coupled to cyclic RGD free in solution/serum or bound to integrins e.g. in tumors. The U87-MG glioblastoma cell line, expressing high integrin levels, was cultured to use in vitro and to induce 4 subcutaneous tumors in a-thymic mice (n=4). Lifetimes of bound and unbound probe were measured with an experimental time-domain single-photon avalanche diode array (time resolution