The application of molecular probes for visualizing biomolecules and biological samples is gaining importance in biochemical and biomedical research. Besides biological target detection, some probes display antitumor and antibacterial effects. This feature is particularly significant given the rise of antibiotic resistance and the escalating incidence of various cancer types.

Among numerous non-covalent small molecule probes, cyanine dyes are known as excellent nucleic acid probes and agents for in vitro and in vivo visualization and therapeutic use. Monomethine and polymethine cyanine dyes make excellent molecular probes due to their distinctive features, such as high extinction coefficients, deeper tissue penetration, reduced background autofluorescence and sensitivity to their molecular environment.

The project is expected to result in new bioprobes with monomethine and polymethine (tri-, penta-, and mainly heptamethine) cyanine structures with the possibility of target recognition, their visualization, and/or biological effect. This will be achieved by fulfilling the following goals: synthesis of new compounds, investigating their interactions with biomacromolecules, and studying the biological effect in vitro and in vivo. Nanosized hydrogels as delivery systems for therapeutic applications will also be explored.

The project will contribute to the enrichment of field research and the synthetic library of our laboratory with a new generation of cyanine-based probes with the potential for visualization and selective recognition of biological targets and therapeutics. It will enable the publication of research results in quality journals, and strengthen inter-institutional collaboration. New cyanine derivatives can be applied in molecular medicine for the detection of specific molecules/biomolecules, drug research and development and the monitoring of antibiotic-resistant bacteria in environmental samples, food products and animal feed.