Performance of a new fluorescence-labeled MMP inhibitor to image tumor MMP activityin vivoin comparison to an MMP-activatable probe

Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) are proteolytic enzymes that degrade structural components of the extracellular matrix and participate in pathologies such as cancer and inflammatory disorders. The development of novel contrast agents for optical imaging of MMP activity in vivo is of great interest. The commonly used near‐infrared fluorescence‐compatible agents are dye‐quenched probes that do not emit fluorescence until they interact with MMPs....