Undergraduate Research Experiences in Synthetic Organic Chemistry: Fluorescent NIR Cyanine Dyes for Various Biomedical and Bioimaging Applications
Dr. Maged Henary, Georgia State University
Abstract: The key to successful undergraduate research participation is for students to see and understand the importance of rigor, academic integrity, and responsible research conduct. Undergraduate students who participate in research early during their course work may have the chance to develop the advanced writing abilities needed for science publishing and communication. My Goal is to train and inspire the next generation of successful scientists. Toward this goal, I have recruited many chemistry majors undergraduate students from different backgrounds at Georgia State University to participate in the ongoing research projects in my lab to develop fluorescent NIR cyanine dyes for various bioimaging and biomedical applications.
Fluorescence imaging technique, characterized by high sensitivity, non-invasiveness and no radiation hazard, has been widely applicated in the biomedical field. However, the depth of tissue penetration is limited in the traditional (400–650 nm) region. NIR-I (the first near-infrared region, 700–900 nm) imaging, and (NIR-II, 1000–1700 nm) has greatly encouraged the development of various contrast agents for biomedical and bioimaging applications.
Cyanine dyes are one of NIR fluorophores, which consist primarily of two terminal heterocyclic rings containing nitrogen connected by a polymethine chain. These heterocyclic rings serve as electron donors and acceptors, which results in the delocalization of electrons across the polymethine chain, allowing a longer wavelength of absorption to be observed. Cyanine dyes can also be categorized into mono-, tri-, penta- and heptamethine compounds according to the number of methine chains between the two terminal heterocyclic rings.
The ability to efficiently modify the cyanine dye scaffold via the use of different heterocycles and N-alkylation of the ring nitrogen with various alkylating groups has permitted the tailoring of these fluorophores for various biological use. In addition, their optical properties, solubility, targetability and toxicity can effectively be fine-tuned through synthetic strategies. In this talk the research progress of NIR dyes-based on cyanine scaffold with regards to synthesis, optical properties and different biomedical and bioimaging applications by involving many undergraduate students will be presented.
Bio: Dr. Henary received his Bachelors of Science degree from Alexandria University, Egypt in 1990. He continued his education in Cairo University, Egypt where he obtained his Masters of Science in organic chemistry in 1996. Then he moved to the United States and in 2000 he received his PhD in organic /medicinal chemistry from Georgia State University. Afterwards he worked as a Postdoctoral Research Associate at Georgia Institute of Technology on the development of fluorescent sensors for imaging microscopy of labile zinc and copper pools in live cells. Currently, Dr. Henary is an Associate Professor and the Associate Chair in the Department of Chemistry at Georgia State University. In addition, he serves as the Editor-in-Chief of Heterocyclic Communications, and he is on the Editorial Boards of various journals. Dr. Henary serves as a member of the Biological Staining Commission Board of Trustees since 2019.
Dr. Henary’s research focuses on the synthesis of novel heterocyclic small molecules as anticancer agents and the design and development of various classes of near infrared (NIR) dyes to use in image-guided surgery. He has published more than 120 research and review articles in highly esteemed journals with more than 6,000 citations and he has obtained eight patents corresponded to various NIR technology. The National Institute of Health, the Health Innovation Grant and the Venture Lab Grant from the State of Georgia support Henary’s research.
Dr. Henary has been recognized for his work with undergraduate students at Georgia State University and he won the 2019 Georgia State Undergraduate Research Award and the 2023 Outstanding Undergraduate Mentoring Award in the College of Arts & Sciences for my continuing efforts in promoting undergraduate research.