Near-infrared emitting lanthanide(III) complexes as prototypes of optical imaging agents with peptide targeting ability: a methodological approach

A methodological approach to design prototypes of specific near-infrared emitting imaging agents based on a small molecular compound combining a lanthanide(III) ion, the cyclen derivative as a coordinating unit and the azo-dye as a sensitizer with a Arg-Gly-Asp cyclopeptide as a targeting moiety, is presented here.