Impact of H-aggregation on activatable MMP-2-specific probes for optical imaging

In order to target and image MMP-2 activity using optical imaging, we developed a panel of new MMP-2 probes based on Cy5 and QSY21 as fluorophore/quencher FRET partners, separated by various MMP-2 specific peptide substrates. We compared these probes for their specificity against other MMPs, their rate of activation by MMP-2 and their initial quenching. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.