# Chemical design of amyloid targeting fluorescent probes

> **NIH NIH RF1** · UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, SAN DIEGO · 2020 · $99,197

## Abstract

Chemical design of amyloid targeting fluorescent probes
Project Summary
Deposition of amyloid plaques in the brain represents a universal feature of many neurodegenerative diseases
and precedes their clinical symptoms by several years. Thus, the specific detection of amyloid plaques can be
used as a biomarker for the diagnosis of neurodegeneration, allowing the opportunity for disease-modifying
therapeutic intervention. We have recently designed a new family of fluorescent probes that can label
amyloids in tissue. Importantly, our results demonstrate, for the first time, that these probes enhance
visualization of amyloids and also make it possible to colorimetrically differentiate the amyloids as a function of
their protein composition. This unique ability may enable accurate diagnosis/monitoring of specific
neurodegenerative diseases, thereby aiding in selection of a proper course of treatment. Here, we propose to
evaluate the structural and electronic parameters that allow the rational design of fluorescent probes for
amyloid discrimination. This work will result in new information of fundamental significance to the inherent
properties of amyloids and immediate applicability to the development of new diagnostics. The specific aims of
this proposal are to: a) develop and experimentally test a theoretical model for the rational design of amyloid
targeting fluorescent probes (ATFPs); b) use rationally designed ATFPs to characterize amyloids based on
their relative permittivity values and develop an ATFP-based fingerprinting assay; c) develop ATFPs with
enhanced optical/biological properties by modifying their chemical/electronic structure; and d) evaluate the
biophysical properties of ATFPs in solution and in tissue.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10019794
- **Project number:** 3RF1AG062362-01A1S1
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, SAN DIEGO
- **Principal Investigator:** EMMANUEL A THEODORAKIS
- **Activity code:** RF1 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $99,197
- **Award type:** 3
- **Project period:** 2018-08-15 → 2023-08-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10019794

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10019794, Chemical design of amyloid targeting fluorescent probes (3RF1AG062362-01A1S1). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-24 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10019794. Licensed CC0.

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