Spectral tuning of water-soluble chlorophyll-binding proteins for use as contrast agents in photoacoustic imaging

This work demonstrates the ability to alter the spectral properties of Water-Soluble Chlorophyll-Binding Protein (WSCP) for its use as a PA imaging contrast agent. WSCP from Lepidium virginicum reconstituted with chlorophyll a offers a stable and biocompatible contrast agent for PA imaging with a high molar extinction coefficient at 665 nm. Single and multi-site mutations in WSCP's peptide sequences achieve red-shifted absorption peaks, potentially improving penetration depth and enhancing its properties as a contrast agent.