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Cancer cell is influenced by ECM (extracellular matrix), ECM-related growth factors and cytokine and surrounding cells in the growth process of cancer cell. Especially four characteristics of cancer such as migration, invasion, metastasis and angiogenesis react according to the surrounding micro environment. In this case, MMP (matrix metalloprotease) that is the protease controls cell-cell and cell-ECM interactions playing an important role in the growth of cancer cell. Accordingly a number of researches have been proceeding a variety of researches using MMP. As this product generates fluorescence according to the absolute volume of MMP, it can be effectively accumulated in the cancer tissues and it is possible for optical imaging of the tissues where MMP is over-expressed. As this product enables to quickly check activity and suppression of protease through imaging, which can be applied to drug screening, and it is possible for real-time based cell imaging and non-invasive tissues imaging for cell and tissue. Especially in addition to the method of screening new drug such as inhibitor that inhibits over-expression of protease, it can be used usefully for early diagnosis of a variety of diseases and incurable diseases like autoimmune diseases that are MMP-related cancer, ostarthritis, rheumarthritis, dementia, etc. In addition, this products group is expected to be easy to use owing to have various fluorescent wavelengths.

NpFlamma^® MMP series of BioActs is a product developed to activate fluorescence depending on the types of MMP expressed in vivo. It is MMP activatable imaging agents that are completed by applying fluorescence technique of Flamma^® Fluors and quencher technique of qFlamma^® based on BioActs’ patented technology in peptides.

Table 1. NpFlamma^® MMP series product list

Figure 1. Operation principle of NpFlamma^® MMP Series and high reaction to Enzyme were confirmed

Figure 2. High restoring force of fluorescence of NpFlamma^® MMP Series according to conc. of Trypsin was confirmed.

Figure 3. As result of comparing the in-vivo images by hours for NpFlamma^® MMP product and the other’s product, high tumor accumulating efficiency against the other’s tested organ was confirmed.

Figure 4. As result of comparing the ex-vivo images of organ between NpFlamma^® MMP product and the other’s product, high tumor accumulating efficiency against the other’s organ was confirmed.