Looking for a near-infrared fluorophore that combines the optical properties of ICG with a functional group for biomolecule conjugation?
ICG-COOH (Indocyanine Green Carboxylic Acid) provides a versatile platform for developing fluorescently labeled biomolecules and NIR imaging probes.
✨ Key Features
• NIR-I fluorescence — Excitation around 780–786 nm and emission around 810–822 nm
• High molar extinction coefficient — ≈ 2.18 × 10⁵ L·mol⁻¹·cm⁻¹
• Carboxyl functional group (-COOH) — Enables covalent conjugation with primary amines
• EDC/NHS chemistry — Suitable for labeling antibodies, proteins, peptides, and amine-functionalized nanoparticles
• Low background fluorescence — NIR emission can help reduce interference from biological autofluorescence
• Multifunctional platform — Suitable for fluorescence imaging and photothermal applications
🧪 Bioconjugation with EDC/NHS
The carboxyl group of ICG-COOH can be activated using EDC/NHS chemistry, generating an active NHS ester intermediate that reacts with amino groups to form stable amide bonds.
This provides a practical approach for preparing ICG-labeled antibodies, proteins, peptides, and nanomaterials.
🧬 Potential Applications
🔹 In vivo fluorescence imaging
🔹 Vascular imaging and surgical navigation
🔹 Cell tracking
🔹 Fluorescent drug delivery systems
🔹 Photothermal therapy
🔹 NIR fluorescent biosensors
🔹 Functionalization of polymers, hydrogels, and MOF-based materials
For researchers developing NIR fluorescent probes, targeted imaging agents, or biomolecule conjugates, ICG-COOH offers a flexible starting point for probe design and bioconjugation.
📩 Detail at ICG-COOH .
