US20110236310A1 - Labeling composition for intraocular tissue, labeling method of intraocular tissue, and screening method - Google Patents

Labeling composition for intraocular tissue, labeling method of intraocular tissue, and screening method Download PDF

Info

Publication number
US20110236310A1
US20110236310A1 US13/133,357 US200913133357A US2011236310A1 US 20110236310 A1 US20110236310 A1 US 20110236310A1 US 200913133357 A US200913133357 A US 200913133357A US 2011236310 A1 US2011236310 A1 US 2011236310A1
Authority
US
United States
Prior art keywords
group
general formula
hydrogen atom
labeling
tissue
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Abandoned
Application number
US13/133,357
Inventor
Kohei Watanabe
Taichi Shintou
Tsuyoshi Nomoto
Takeshi Miyazaki
Toshio Tanaka
Yuhei Nishimura
Yasuhito Shimada
Norihiro Nishimura
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Canon Inc
Original Assignee
Canon Inc
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Canon Inc filed Critical Canon Inc
Assigned to CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA reassignment CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST (SEE DOCUMENT FOR DETAILS). Assignors: NISHIMURA, NORIHIRO, NISHIMURA, YUHEI, SHIMADA, YASUHITO, TANAKA, TOSHIO, MIYAZAKI, TAKESHI, NOMOTO, TSUYOSHI, SHINTOU, TAICHI, WATANABE, KOHEI
Publication of US20110236310A1 publication Critical patent/US20110236310A1/en
Abandoned legal-status Critical Current

Links

Images

Classifications

    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61K—PREPARATIONS FOR MEDICAL, DENTAL OR TOILETRY PURPOSES
    • A61K49/00—Preparations for testing in vivo
    • A61K49/001—Preparation for luminescence or biological staining
    • A61K49/0013—Luminescence
    • A61K49/0017—Fluorescence in vivo
    • A61K49/0019—Fluorescence in vivo characterised by the fluorescent group, e.g. oligomeric, polymeric or dendritic molecules
    • A61K49/0021—Fluorescence in vivo characterised by the fluorescent group, e.g. oligomeric, polymeric or dendritic molecules the fluorescent group being a small organic molecule
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61K—PREPARATIONS FOR MEDICAL, DENTAL OR TOILETRY PURPOSES
    • A61K49/00—Preparations for testing in vivo
    • A61K49/0002—General or multifunctional contrast agents, e.g. chelated agents
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61K—PREPARATIONS FOR MEDICAL, DENTAL OR TOILETRY PURPOSES
    • A61K49/00—Preparations for testing in vivo
    • A61K49/001—Preparation for luminescence or biological staining
    • A61K49/0013—Luminescence
    • A61K49/0017—Fluorescence in vivo
    • A61K49/0019—Fluorescence in vivo characterised by the fluorescent group, e.g. oligomeric, polymeric or dendritic molecules
    • A61K49/0021—Fluorescence in vivo characterised by the fluorescent group, e.g. oligomeric, polymeric or dendritic molecules the fluorescent group being a small organic molecule
    • A61K49/0039—Coumarin dyes
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61K—PREPARATIONS FOR MEDICAL, DENTAL OR TOILETRY PURPOSES
    • A61K49/00—Preparations for testing in vivo
    • A61K49/001—Preparation for luminescence or biological staining
    • A61K49/0013—Luminescence
    • A61K49/0017—Fluorescence in vivo
    • A61K49/0019—Fluorescence in vivo characterised by the fluorescent group, e.g. oligomeric, polymeric or dendritic molecules
    • A61K49/0021—Fluorescence in vivo characterised by the fluorescent group, e.g. oligomeric, polymeric or dendritic molecules the fluorescent group being a small organic molecule
    • A61K49/0041—Xanthene dyes, used in vivo, e.g. administered to a mice, e.g. rhodamines, rose Bengal
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61K—PREPARATIONS FOR MEDICAL, DENTAL OR TOILETRY PURPOSES
    • A61K49/00—Preparations for testing in vivo
    • A61K49/001—Preparation for luminescence or biological staining
    • A61K49/006—Biological staining of tissues in vivo, e.g. methylene blue or toluidine blue O administered in the buccal area to detect epithelial cancer cells, dyes used for delineating tissues during surgery
    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C07—ORGANIC CHEMISTRY
    • C07D—HETEROCYCLIC COMPOUNDS
    • C07D209/00—Heterocyclic compounds containing five-membered rings, condensed with other rings, with one nitrogen atom as the only ring hetero atom
    • C07D209/56—Ring systems containing three or more rings
    • C07D209/58—[b]- or [c]-condensed
    • C07D209/70—[b]- or [c]-condensed containing carbocyclic rings other than six-membered
    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C07—ORGANIC CHEMISTRY
    • C07D—HETEROCYCLIC COMPOUNDS
    • C07D209/00—Heterocyclic compounds containing five-membered rings, condensed with other rings, with one nitrogen atom as the only ring hetero atom
    • C07D209/56—Ring systems containing three or more rings
    • C07D209/96—Spiro-condensed ring systems
    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C07—ORGANIC CHEMISTRY
    • C07D—HETEROCYCLIC COMPOUNDS
    • C07D215/00—Heterocyclic compounds containing quinoline or hydrogenated quinoline ring systems
    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C07—ORGANIC CHEMISTRY
    • C07D—HETEROCYCLIC COMPOUNDS
    • C07D221/00—Heterocyclic compounds containing six-membered rings having one nitrogen atom as the only ring hetero atom, not provided for by groups C07D211/00 - C07D219/00
    • C07D221/02—Heterocyclic compounds containing six-membered rings having one nitrogen atom as the only ring hetero atom, not provided for by groups C07D211/00 - C07D219/00 condensed with carbocyclic rings or ring systems
    • C07D221/04—Ortho- or peri-condensed ring systems
    • C07D221/06—Ring systems of three rings
    • C07D221/14—Aza-phenalenes, e.g. 1,8-naphthalimide
    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C07—ORGANIC CHEMISTRY
    • C07D—HETEROCYCLIC COMPOUNDS
    • C07D221/00—Heterocyclic compounds containing six-membered rings having one nitrogen atom as the only ring hetero atom, not provided for by groups C07D211/00 - C07D219/00
    • C07D221/02—Heterocyclic compounds containing six-membered rings having one nitrogen atom as the only ring hetero atom, not provided for by groups C07D211/00 - C07D219/00 condensed with carbocyclic rings or ring systems
    • C07D221/04—Ortho- or peri-condensed ring systems
    • C07D221/18—Ring systems of four or more rings
    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C07—ORGANIC CHEMISTRY
    • C07D—HETEROCYCLIC COMPOUNDS
    • C07D263/00—Heterocyclic compounds containing 1,3-oxazole or hydrogenated 1,3-oxazole rings
    • C07D263/52—Heterocyclic compounds containing 1,3-oxazole or hydrogenated 1,3-oxazole rings condensed with carbocyclic rings or ring systems
    • C07D263/54—Benzoxazoles; Hydrogenated benzoxazoles
    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C07—ORGANIC CHEMISTRY
    • C07D—HETEROCYCLIC COMPOUNDS
    • C07D277/00—Heterocyclic compounds containing 1,3-thiazole or hydrogenated 1,3-thiazole rings
    • C07D277/02—Heterocyclic compounds containing 1,3-thiazole or hydrogenated 1,3-thiazole rings not condensed with other rings
    • C07D277/20—Heterocyclic compounds containing 1,3-thiazole or hydrogenated 1,3-thiazole rings not condensed with other rings having two or three double bonds between ring members or between ring members and non-ring members
    • C07D277/32—Heterocyclic compounds containing 1,3-thiazole or hydrogenated 1,3-thiazole rings not condensed with other rings having two or three double bonds between ring members or between ring members and non-ring members with hetero atoms or with carbon atoms having three bonds to hetero atoms with at the most one bond to halogen, e.g. ester or nitrile radicals, directly attached to ring carbon atoms
    • C07D277/34—Oxygen atoms
    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C07—ORGANIC CHEMISTRY
    • C07D—HETEROCYCLIC COMPOUNDS
    • C07D277/00—Heterocyclic compounds containing 1,3-thiazole or hydrogenated 1,3-thiazole rings
    • C07D277/02—Heterocyclic compounds containing 1,3-thiazole or hydrogenated 1,3-thiazole rings not condensed with other rings
    • C07D277/20—Heterocyclic compounds containing 1,3-thiazole or hydrogenated 1,3-thiazole rings not condensed with other rings having two or three double bonds between ring members or between ring members and non-ring members
    • C07D277/32—Heterocyclic compounds containing 1,3-thiazole or hydrogenated 1,3-thiazole rings not condensed with other rings having two or three double bonds between ring members or between ring members and non-ring members with hetero atoms or with carbon atoms having three bonds to hetero atoms with at the most one bond to halogen, e.g. ester or nitrile radicals, directly attached to ring carbon atoms
    • C07D277/36—Sulfur atoms
    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C07—ORGANIC CHEMISTRY
    • C07D—HETEROCYCLIC COMPOUNDS
    • C07D277/00—Heterocyclic compounds containing 1,3-thiazole or hydrogenated 1,3-thiazole rings
    • C07D277/60—Heterocyclic compounds containing 1,3-thiazole or hydrogenated 1,3-thiazole rings condensed with carbocyclic rings or ring systems
    • C07D277/62—Benzothiazoles
    • C07D277/64—Benzothiazoles with only hydrocarbon or substituted hydrocarbon radicals attached in position 2
    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C07—ORGANIC CHEMISTRY
    • C07D—HETEROCYCLIC COMPOUNDS
    • C07D311/00—Heterocyclic compounds containing six-membered rings having one oxygen atom as the only hetero atom, condensed with other rings
    • C07D311/02—Heterocyclic compounds containing six-membered rings having one oxygen atom as the only hetero atom, condensed with other rings ortho- or peri-condensed with carbocyclic rings or ring systems
    • C07D311/78—Ring systems having three or more relevant rings
    • C07D311/80—Dibenzopyrans; Hydrogenated dibenzopyrans
    • C07D311/82—Xanthenes
    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C07—ORGANIC CHEMISTRY
    • C07D—HETEROCYCLIC COMPOUNDS
    • C07D311/00—Heterocyclic compounds containing six-membered rings having one oxygen atom as the only hetero atom, condensed with other rings
    • C07D311/02—Heterocyclic compounds containing six-membered rings having one oxygen atom as the only hetero atom, condensed with other rings ortho- or peri-condensed with carbocyclic rings or ring systems
    • C07D311/78—Ring systems having three or more relevant rings
    • C07D311/80—Dibenzopyrans; Hydrogenated dibenzopyrans
    • C07D311/82—Xanthenes
    • C07D311/84—Xanthenes with hetero atoms or with carbon atoms having three bonds to hetero atoms with at the most one bond to halogen, e.g. ester or nitrile radicals, directly attached in position 9
    • C07D311/86—Oxygen atoms, e.g. xanthones
    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C07—ORGANIC CHEMISTRY
    • C07D—HETEROCYCLIC COMPOUNDS
    • C07D405/00—Heterocyclic compounds containing both one or more hetero rings having oxygen atoms as the only ring hetero atoms, and one or more rings having nitrogen as the only ring hetero atom
    • C07D405/02—Heterocyclic compounds containing both one or more hetero rings having oxygen atoms as the only ring hetero atoms, and one or more rings having nitrogen as the only ring hetero atom containing two hetero rings
    • C07D405/04—Heterocyclic compounds containing both one or more hetero rings having oxygen atoms as the only ring hetero atoms, and one or more rings having nitrogen as the only ring hetero atom containing two hetero rings directly linked by a ring-member-to-ring-member bond
    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C07—ORGANIC CHEMISTRY
    • C07D—HETEROCYCLIC COMPOUNDS
    • C07D405/00—Heterocyclic compounds containing both one or more hetero rings having oxygen atoms as the only ring hetero atoms, and one or more rings having nitrogen as the only ring hetero atom
    • C07D405/02—Heterocyclic compounds containing both one or more hetero rings having oxygen atoms as the only ring hetero atoms, and one or more rings having nitrogen as the only ring hetero atom containing two hetero rings
    • C07D405/06—Heterocyclic compounds containing both one or more hetero rings having oxygen atoms as the only ring hetero atoms, and one or more rings having nitrogen as the only ring hetero atom containing two hetero rings linked by a carbon chain containing only aliphatic carbon atoms
    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C07—ORGANIC CHEMISTRY
    • C07D—HETEROCYCLIC COMPOUNDS
    • C07D413/00—Heterocyclic compounds containing two or more hetero rings, at least one ring having nitrogen and oxygen atoms as the only ring hetero atoms
    • C07D413/02—Heterocyclic compounds containing two or more hetero rings, at least one ring having nitrogen and oxygen atoms as the only ring hetero atoms containing two hetero rings
    • C07D413/04—Heterocyclic compounds containing two or more hetero rings, at least one ring having nitrogen and oxygen atoms as the only ring hetero atoms containing two hetero rings directly linked by a ring-member-to-ring-member bond
    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C07—ORGANIC CHEMISTRY
    • C07D—HETEROCYCLIC COMPOUNDS
    • C07D413/00—Heterocyclic compounds containing two or more hetero rings, at least one ring having nitrogen and oxygen atoms as the only ring hetero atoms
    • C07D413/02—Heterocyclic compounds containing two or more hetero rings, at least one ring having nitrogen and oxygen atoms as the only ring hetero atoms containing two hetero rings
    • C07D413/06—Heterocyclic compounds containing two or more hetero rings, at least one ring having nitrogen and oxygen atoms as the only ring hetero atoms containing two hetero rings linked by a carbon chain containing only aliphatic carbon atoms
    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C07—ORGANIC CHEMISTRY
    • C07D—HETEROCYCLIC COMPOUNDS
    • C07D417/00—Heterocyclic compounds containing two or more hetero rings, at least one ring having nitrogen and sulfur atoms as the only ring hetero atoms, not provided for by group C07D415/00
    • C07D417/02—Heterocyclic compounds containing two or more hetero rings, at least one ring having nitrogen and sulfur atoms as the only ring hetero atoms, not provided for by group C07D415/00 containing two hetero rings
    • C07D417/04—Heterocyclic compounds containing two or more hetero rings, at least one ring having nitrogen and sulfur atoms as the only ring hetero atoms, not provided for by group C07D415/00 containing two hetero rings directly linked by a ring-member-to-ring-member bond
    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C07—ORGANIC CHEMISTRY
    • C07D—HETEROCYCLIC COMPOUNDS
    • C07D417/00—Heterocyclic compounds containing two or more hetero rings, at least one ring having nitrogen and sulfur atoms as the only ring hetero atoms, not provided for by group C07D415/00
    • C07D417/02—Heterocyclic compounds containing two or more hetero rings, at least one ring having nitrogen and sulfur atoms as the only ring hetero atoms, not provided for by group C07D415/00 containing two hetero rings
    • C07D417/06—Heterocyclic compounds containing two or more hetero rings, at least one ring having nitrogen and sulfur atoms as the only ring hetero atoms, not provided for by group C07D415/00 containing two hetero rings linked by a carbon chain containing only aliphatic carbon atoms
    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C07—ORGANIC CHEMISTRY
    • C07D—HETEROCYCLIC COMPOUNDS
    • C07D417/00—Heterocyclic compounds containing two or more hetero rings, at least one ring having nitrogen and sulfur atoms as the only ring hetero atoms, not provided for by group C07D415/00
    • C07D417/14—Heterocyclic compounds containing two or more hetero rings, at least one ring having nitrogen and sulfur atoms as the only ring hetero atoms, not provided for by group C07D415/00 containing three or more hetero rings
    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C07—ORGANIC CHEMISTRY
    • C07D—HETEROCYCLIC COMPOUNDS
    • C07D491/00—Heterocyclic compounds containing in the condensed ring system both one or more rings having oxygen atoms as the only ring hetero atoms and one or more rings having nitrogen atoms as the only ring hetero atoms, not provided for by groups C07D451/00 - C07D459/00, C07D463/00, C07D477/00 or C07D489/00
    • C07D491/02—Heterocyclic compounds containing in the condensed ring system both one or more rings having oxygen atoms as the only ring hetero atoms and one or more rings having nitrogen atoms as the only ring hetero atoms, not provided for by groups C07D451/00 - C07D459/00, C07D463/00, C07D477/00 or C07D489/00 in which the condensed system contains two hetero rings
    • C07D491/04—Ortho-condensed systems
    • C07D491/044—Ortho-condensed systems with only one oxygen atom as ring hetero atom in the oxygen-containing ring
    • C07D491/052—Ortho-condensed systems with only one oxygen atom as ring hetero atom in the oxygen-containing ring the oxygen-containing ring being six-membered
    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C07—ORGANIC CHEMISTRY
    • C07D—HETEROCYCLIC COMPOUNDS
    • C07D491/00—Heterocyclic compounds containing in the condensed ring system both one or more rings having oxygen atoms as the only ring hetero atoms and one or more rings having nitrogen atoms as the only ring hetero atoms, not provided for by groups C07D451/00 - C07D459/00, C07D463/00, C07D477/00 or C07D489/00
    • C07D491/12—Heterocyclic compounds containing in the condensed ring system both one or more rings having oxygen atoms as the only ring hetero atoms and one or more rings having nitrogen atoms as the only ring hetero atoms, not provided for by groups C07D451/00 - C07D459/00, C07D463/00, C07D477/00 or C07D489/00 in which the condensed system contains three hetero rings
    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C07—ORGANIC CHEMISTRY
    • C07D—HETEROCYCLIC COMPOUNDS
    • C07D497/00—Heterocyclic compounds containing in the condensed system at least one hetero ring having oxygen and sulfur atoms as the only ring hetero atoms
    • C07D497/02—Heterocyclic compounds containing in the condensed system at least one hetero ring having oxygen and sulfur atoms as the only ring hetero atoms in which the condensed system contains two hetero rings
    • C07D497/10—Spiro-condensed systems
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G01—MEASURING; TESTING
    • G01N—INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
    • G01N33/00—Investigating or analysing materials by specific methods not covered by groups G01N1/00 - G01N31/00
    • G01N33/48—Biological material, e.g. blood, urine; Haemocytometers
    • G01N33/50—Chemical analysis of biological material, e.g. blood, urine; Testing involving biospecific ligand binding methods; Immunological testing
    • G01N33/5005—Chemical analysis of biological material, e.g. blood, urine; Testing involving biospecific ligand binding methods; Immunological testing involving human or animal cells
    • G01N33/5008—Chemical analysis of biological material, e.g. blood, urine; Testing involving biospecific ligand binding methods; Immunological testing involving human or animal cells for testing or evaluating the effect of chemical or biological compounds, e.g. drugs, cosmetics
    • G01N33/5082—Supracellular entities, e.g. tissue, organisms
    • G01N33/5088—Supracellular entities, e.g. tissue, organisms of vertebrates
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G01—MEASURING; TESTING
    • G01N—INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
    • G01N33/00—Investigating or analysing materials by specific methods not covered by groups G01N1/00 - G01N31/00
    • G01N33/48—Biological material, e.g. blood, urine; Haemocytometers
    • G01N33/50—Chemical analysis of biological material, e.g. blood, urine; Testing involving biospecific ligand binding methods; Immunological testing
    • G01N33/58—Chemical analysis of biological material, e.g. blood, urine; Testing involving biospecific ligand binding methods; Immunological testing involving labelled substances
    • G01N33/582—Chemical analysis of biological material, e.g. blood, urine; Testing involving biospecific ligand binding methods; Immunological testing involving labelled substances with fluorescent label
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G01—MEASURING; TESTING
    • G01N—INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
    • G01N2333/00—Assays involving biological materials from specific organisms or of a specific nature
    • G01N2333/435—Assays involving biological materials from specific organisms or of a specific nature from animals; from humans
    • G01N2333/46—Assays involving biological materials from specific organisms or of a specific nature from animals; from humans from vertebrates
    • G01N2333/4603—Assays involving biological materials from specific organisms or of a specific nature from animals; from humans from vertebrates from fish

Definitions

  • the present invention relates a labeling composition for an intraocular tissue, which is used for noninvasively labeling an intraocular tissue of a living sample, a labeling method of the intraocular tissue, and a screening method.
  • a method of imaging and staining the ocular tissue using a staining compound has heretofore been known.
  • a method of visualizing a choroidal vessel and a retinal vessel using a fluorescent pigment such as indocyanine green or fluorescein (Ophthalmologic Photograph, 23, pp. 3-10 (2007)).
  • a staining method of the cornea a method of using rose Bengal or fluorescein is also known (EYE CONTACT LENS, 34, pages 61 to 64 (2008)).
  • a method of administering a stain composition to a vitreous cavity mainly at surgical operation is disclosed.
  • a composition for staining a retinal membrane in a vitreous retina surgery Japanese Patent No. 3469198. It is also disclosed that a transmission substance injected into the vitreous body remains in the retina (Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2007-262078).
  • a drug to act on the retina or retinal nerve tissue is administered by intravenous injection or orally.
  • the quantity of the drug transferred to the retina is extremely small.
  • drug administration to the vitreous cavity enables a large quantity of the drug transferred to the retinal tissue compared with the intravenous injection or oral administration.
  • an advanced technique is required, and a burden on a patient is also great, and so it is extremely difficult to use it except for the case of surgery or curing, and such administration has been unable to be used for the morphological or functional evaluation of the fundus retina.
  • the present invention provides a labeling composition, which can label the intraocular tissue in vivo.
  • Another object of the present invention is to provide a method of noninvasively labeling an intraocular tissue of a living individual without need of an invasive operation such as exposure of an ocular tissue or needling into the ocular tissue or a nerve tissue linking to the ocular tissue.
  • a further object of the present invention is to provide a screening method using the labeling composition for the intraocular tissue.
  • the present inventors have carried out an extensive investigation for achieving the above objects. As a result, a group of compounds, which provide new use of labeling an intraocular tissue of a living individual, has been found. In other words, the group of compounds, which can label the intraocular tissue of the living individual, has been found to succeed in providing a labeling composition for an intraocular tissue.
  • the present inventors have also established a method for noninvasively labeling the intraocular tissue.
  • the present inventors have further developed an imaging method of the intraocular tissue using the labeling composition for the intraocular tissue according to the present invention, a screening method using the labeling composition for the intraocular tissue, which can label the intraocular tissue, and a diagnostic drug for the intraocular tissue, thus leading to completion of the present invention.
  • the present invention is as follows.
  • the present invention provides a labeling composition for an intraocular tissue of a living individual, which comprises a compound capable of labeling at least a photoreceptor cell layer of a retina, wherein the compound is a staining compound having a structure represented by the following general formula (I) or general formula (II) as a partial structure thereof,
  • R 1 and R 2 are, independently of each other, a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group or an aryl group, R 1 and R 2 may bond to each other to form a ring, and A is a structure represented by any one of the following general formulae (III) to (IX) and (VIII′)
  • R 6 is an aryl group
  • R 7 , R 8 , R 10 and R 11 are, independently of one another, a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group, an aryl group or a halogen atom
  • R g is an ammonium salt group having a counter anion
  • R 12 and R 13 are, independently of each other, a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group, an aryl group or a heterocyclic group
  • R 14 to R 16 are, independently of one another, a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group, an aryl group, a heterocyclic group, a halogen atom or an amino group
  • R 17 and R 18 are, independently of each other, a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group or an alkoxy group
  • R 19 and R 20 are, independently of each other, a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group, an alkoxy group, a hydroxyl group or a cyano
  • R 31 and R 32 are individually a sulfonic group or a salt thereof, and R 33 and R 34 are individually a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group, an alkoxy group or a halogen atom, with the proviso that R 1 and R 2 in the general formula (I) bond to each other to form one substituent group ⁇ N—R 30 , and R 30 is an aryl group or a heterocyclic group, further wherein in the general formula (II), R 3 and R 4 are, independently of each other, a hydrogen atom, an alkenyl group, a cyano group, a carboxyl group, a carboxylate group, a sulfonic group, an acyl group or a heterocyclic group, R 3 and R 4 may bond to each other to form a ring, and R 5 is a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group, an aryl group or a heterocyclic group, with the proviso that one of R 3 and R 4
  • R 35 is an alkyl group or an aryl group
  • R 36 to R 39 are, independently of one another, a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group, an aryl group, an alkoxy group, a carboxyl group, a sulfonic group, a heterocyclic group, an amino group or a halogen atom
  • R 36 and R 37 , R 37 and R 38 , or R 38 and R 39 may bond to each other to form a ring
  • X ⁇ is an anionic group
  • Q 1 is a sulfur atom, oxygen atom, —C(R 40 )(R 41 )—, —CH ⁇ CH— or —N(R 42 )—, in which R 40 to R 42 are individually a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group or an aryl group, and R 40 and R 41 may bond to each other to form a ring
  • R 43 is a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group, an aryl group or a heterocyclic group
  • R 44 is an alkyl group, an aryl group, a carboxyl group, a carboxylate group, a hydroxyl group or an amino group
  • Q 2 is an oxygen atom, a sulfur atom or —N(R 52 )—
  • R 45 is a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group, an aryl group or a heterocyclic group
  • R 46 is a sulfur atom, an oxygen atom, ⁇ NR 53 , a heterocyclic group or a dicyanomethylene group
  • R 52 and R 53 are individually a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group, an aryl group or a heterocyclic group
  • R 49 and R 50 are, independently of each other, a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group or an aryl group
  • R 51 is an oxygen
  • R 54 is a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group, an aralkyl group, an alkenyl group, an aryl group, a heterocyclic group or an acyl group
  • R 55 to R 58 are, independently of one another, a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group, an aryl group, a carboxyl group, a carboxylate group or an acyl group
  • R 55 and R 57 may bond to each other to form a ring
  • R 59 is a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group, an alkoxy group or a halogen atom
  • R 60 is a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group or an aryl group
  • R 61 to R 64 are, independently of one another, a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group, an aryl group, an alkoxy group, a carboxyl group, a sulfonic group, a heterocyclic group, an amino group or a
  • the present invention also provides a labeling composition for labeling an intraocular tissue of a living individual, which comprises a compound capable of labeling at least a photoreceptor cell layer of the retina.
  • the present invention further provides a staining agent for an intraocular tissue, which comprises the above-described labeling composition for the intraocular tissue.
  • the present invention still further provides a diagnostic composition comprising, as an active agent, the above-described labeling composition or staining agent for the intraocular tissue.
  • the present invention yet still further provides a staining method of an ocular tissue, which comprises a step of bringing the above-described labeling composition or staining agent for the intraocular tissue into contact with the ocular tissue.
  • the present invention yet still further provides a multiple staining method of an ocular tissue, which comprises using plural kinds of labeling compositions including at least one of the above-described labeling composition and staining agent for the intraocular tissue.
  • the present invention yet still further provides an imaging method of an intraocular tissue, which comprises a step of irradiating the intraocular tissue with excitation light to observe fluorescence, and comprises staining by the above-described staining method.
  • the present invention yet still further provides an evaluating method of the condition of the retina, which comprises using the above-described imaging method of the intraocular tissue.
  • the present invention yet still further provides a screening method comprising using a model animal labeled with the above-described labeling composition for the intraocular tissue.
  • the present invention yet still further provides a screening method of a disease curing medicine or disease preventing medicine, which comprises a step of administering a test substance to a model animal, a step of administering the above-described labeling composition for the intraocular tissue to the model animal, and a step of checking the condition of the labeling of the intraocular tissue of the model animal with the labeling composition for the intraocular tissue.
  • the present invention provides a labeling composition for an intraocular tissue, whereby noninvasive labeling of the intraocular tissue, which has heretofore been impossible to conduct, becomes feasible, and so it is possible to image the condition of a layer structure of the intraocular tissue and the cell morphology thereof in a simple and easy way and with high definition. It is thereby possible to conduct evaluation and analysis of the intraocular tissue with high precision.
  • the labeling composition for the intraocular tissue according to the present invention is combined with an observing and analyzing apparatus for intraocular tissues, whereby the condition of an intraocular tissue, or the retina in particular, of a living individual, which has heretofore been difficult to be observed, can be grasped with accuracy and high sensitivity, and so a new tool effective for researches and diagnoses in an ophthalmic field can be provided.
  • FIG. 1 illustrates labeling of a retinal tissue observed in Example 4.
  • FIG. 2 illustrates labeling of a retinal tissue observed in Example 2.
  • FIG. 3 illustrates a fluorescent observation image of a retinal tissue observed in Comparative Example 1.
  • FIG. 4 illustrates an observation image of a retinal tissue in a living body observed in Example 118.
  • FIG. 5 illustrates a labeled image of a frozen section of a Zebrafish eyeball observed in Example 120.
  • FIG. 6 illustrates a labeled image of a frozen section of a man eyeball observed in Example 122.
  • FIG. 7 illustrates a labeled image of a frozen section of a mouse eyeball observed in Example 123.
  • the labeling of an intraocular tissue means that a pigment composition, which is an active agent in the above-described composition, is held in an intraocular tissue, or on the surface thereof, or at the periphery thereof, thereby becoming a state capable of detecting at least one of the form, position and function of the intraocular tissue.
  • Detections include a method of acquiring a fluorescent image or labeled image by an image acquiring unit, which will be described subsequently, and a visually observing method.
  • a typical example of the labeling is staining, and the labeling composition for the intraocular tissue, by which the so-called cell staining or tissue staining becomes feasible, is provided by the present invention.
  • the labeling composition for the intraocular tissue according to the present invention labels a specific intraocular tissue is not known.
  • the group of compounds provided by the present invention is easy to permeate a cell membrane and migrate because they are stable compounds with a low molecular weight and have a structure easy to be held in a specific cell, thereby being held in the specific tissue of the cell.
  • the labeling composition for the intraocular tissue according to the present invention favorably labels the intraocular tissue immediately after administration to a living body. However, it may take a certain period of time to label the intraocular tissue according to a method of administration. From this point of view, the composition favorably contains a staining compound capable of labeling within several minutes or several hours after the administration.
  • a living individual the intraocular tissue of which can be labeled with the labeling composition for the intraocular tissue according to the present invention.
  • vertebrate animals include bony fishes such as T. rubripes, T. niphobles, T. nigrovirides , Japanese killifish and Zebrafish; Amphibia such as X. laevis ; birds such as domestic fowl and quail; small animals such as rat, mouse and hamster; large animals such as goat, pig, dog, cat, cattle and horse; monkey; chimpanzee; and human.
  • the intraocular tissues of these living individuals can be labeled in a living state.
  • the human may be excluded from the living samples.
  • Zebrafish main organs are formed in 6 and 7 days after fertilization, and the histological form of an eyeball is also almost completed. Therefore, the use of a 7-day-old embryo makes it possible to conduct a test almost without having an influence of individual differences.
  • Zebrafish at least about 200 fertilized ova are obtained in one spawning, and so there is a merit of obtaining Zebrafishes having the same genetic background to be a good convenience to screening.
  • an intraocular tissue which can be labeled with the labeling composition for the intraocular tissue according to the present invention, so far as it is an intraocular tissue forming an intraocular structure being in no direct contact with the outside in an eyeball and is a tissue present in the eye, excluding tissues on the surface of the eyeball.
  • Examples thereof include a retinal tissue comprising retinal pigment epithelium layer, photoreceptor cell layer, outer limiting membrane, outer granular layer, outer reticular layer, internal granular layer, internal reticular layer, ganglion cell layer and internal limiting membrane, iris, ciliary body, choroid, lens, vitreous body, lacrimal gland, optic nerve, optic disk, optic tract, retinal blood vessel, diseased-condition tissues of these tissues, and neogenetic tissues and cancer tissues caused by diseases.
  • a retinal tissue comprising retinal pigment epithelium layer, photoreceptor cell layer, outer limiting membrane, outer granular layer, outer reticular layer, internal granular layer, internal reticular layer, ganglion cell layer and internal limiting membrane, iris, ciliary body, choroid, lens, vitreous body, lacrimal gland, optic nerve, optic disk, optic tract, retinal blood vessel, diseased-condition tissues of these tissues, and neogenetic tissues and cancer tissues caused by diseases.
  • the labeling composition for the intraocular tissue according to the present invention is favorably used in staining of a retinal tissue in particular.
  • a retinal tissue in particular, one or more tissues including the photoreceptor cell layer among the above-described plural layers forming the retinal tissue or cells thereof may be stained, so that availability becomes high in uses such as visualization of a retinal disease.
  • the labeling composition for the intraocular tissue according to the present invention can favorably stain one or more cells of the rod cells and plural kinds of cone cells different in the sensitivity to a wavelength region.
  • to stain the cell morphology of the retina means that at least one of cells making up the retinal cells is stained to become a state that the cell morphology can be clearly determined one by one.
  • to label the intraocular tissue without damaging the ocular tissue or the nerve tissue linking to the ocular tissue means labeling the intraocular tissue with the labeling composition for the intraocular tissue without applying a surgical damage such as incision of the ocular tissue or needling into the ocular tissue or the nerve tissue linking to the ocular tissue to the ocular tissue.
  • examples thereof include a method of exposing a part or the whole of a living individual to the labeling composition for the intraocular tissue, a method by oral contact, a method by pneumonic contact, a method by nasal contact, a method by transgastrointestinal contact, a method by transmucosal contact, a method by transhumoral contact, a method by hypoglossal contact, a method by intravascular contact such as intravenous or intra-arterial contact, a method by intra-abdominal contact, an intra-abdominal, subcutaneous, intracutaneous, intravesical or endotracheal (intrabronchial) injection method, and a method by contact with the interior of a living body by a device such as spraying or coating.
  • the nerve tissue linking to the ocular tissue means a nerve tissue histologically linking to the ocular tissue.
  • examples thereof include an optic nerve tissue and a cranial nerve tissue though not particularly limited thereto.
  • administering form, administering route and dose thereof are suitably selected according to the body weight and condition of the subject animal.
  • the compound contained in the labeling composition for the intraocular tissue according to the present invention includes a compound capable of labeling at least a photoreceptor cell layer of the retina.
  • the compound includes a compound selectively labeling one or more cells selected from rod cells present in the photoreceptor cell layer of the retina and plural kinds of cone cells or a part of the cell bodies of these cells.
  • Selective labeling in the present invention means a state that at least a specific cell or a part thereof is labeled, and unlabeled cells or a part thereof exist in the retinal tissue.
  • the compound contained in the labeling composition for the intraocular tissue according to the present invention is favorably a low-molecular weight compound because the compound is caused to migrate to the intraocular tissue as an object of labeling, in particular, the retinal tissue, and so a compound having a molecular weight of 2,000 or less is selected.
  • the compound is favorably a compound having a molecular weight of favorably 1,500 or less, particularly 1,000 or less.
  • the compound of the present invention is favorably a fluorescent compound having fluorescence. Since the fluorescent compound is high in sensitivity, labeling becomes feasible at a low concentration, and so a necessary amount of the compound can be relatively reduced. Compounds different in labeling sites and fluorescent spectrum are combined and selected, whereby multiple labeling of plural tissues becomes feasible, so that information on a plurality of tissues can be obtained in one observation, and so availability becomes high.
  • the compound used in the labeling composition for the intraocular tissue according to the present invention is favorably a staining compound having a structure represented by the following general formula (I) or general formula (II) as a partial structure thereof.
  • R 1 and R 2 are, independently of each other, a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group or an aryl group, and R 1 and R 2 may bond to each other to form a ring.
  • alkyl group in R 1 and R 2 No particular limitation is imposed on the alkyl group in R 1 and R 2 .
  • examples thereof include linear, branched or cyclic alkyl groups having 1 to 20 carbon atoms, such as methyl, ethyl, propyl, butyl, pentyl, hexyl, octyl, nonyl, decyl, undecyl, dodecyl, tridecyl, tetradecyl, pentadecyl, hexadecyl, heptadecyl, octadecyl, nonadecyl, cyclopropyl, cyclobutyl and cyclopentyl groups.
  • aryl group in R 1 and R 2 No particular limitation is imposed on the aryl group in R 1 and R 2 .
  • examples thereof include 6- to 14-membered monocyclic or polycyclic aryl groups such as phenyl, naphthyl, phenanthryl and anthracenyl groups.
  • R 1 and R 2 may additionally have substituent(s), and no particular limitation is imposed on the substituent(s) so far as the storage stability of the staining compound is not markedly impaired.
  • substituent(s) include alkyl groups such as methyl, ethyl, n-propyl, isopropyl, n-butyl, isobutyl, sec-butyl and tert-butyl groups; aryl groups such as phenyl and naphthyl groups; alkoxy groups such as methoxy, ethoxy and butoxy groups; aryloxy groups such as phenoxy and naphtyloxy groups; alkylsulfanyl groups such as thiomethyl, thioethyl, thiopropyl, thiobutyl and thiophenyl groups; mono-substituted amino groups such as methylamino and butylamino groups; di-substituted amino groups such as dimethylamino, N-
  • the groups favorably have a substituent having such a nature that the water solubility is improved, among these substituents.
  • Particularly favorable examples of such a substituent include carboxyl, sulfonic, polyethylene glycol, carboxylate and sulfonate groups though not limited thereto. Description of these substituents exemplified above is hereinafter omitted as described as “favorable examples of additional substituents” in the present specification.
  • A is a structure represented by any one of the following general formulae (III) to (IX) and (VIII′).
  • R 6 is an aryl group.
  • R 7 , R 8 , R 10 and R 11 are, independently of one another, a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group, an aryl group or a halogen atom.
  • R 9 is an ammonium salt group having a counter anion.
  • aryl group in R 6 No particular limitation is imposed on the aryl group in R 6 .
  • examples thereof include 6- to 14-membered monocyclic or polycyclic aryl groups such as phenyl, naphthyl, phenanthryl and anthracenyl groups.
  • the ring may additionally have substituent(s), and no particular limitation is imposed on the substituent(s) so far as the storage stability of the staining compound is not markedly impaired. Examples thereof include substituents described as “favorable examples of additional substituents” above.
  • the group favorably has a substituent having such a nature that the water solubility is improved, among these substituents.
  • a substituent having such a nature that the water solubility is improved, among these substituents.
  • Particularly favorable examples of such a substituent include carboxyl, sulfonic, polyethylene glycol, carboxylate and sulfonate groups though not limited thereto.
  • R 6 is favorably a phenyl or naphthyl group.
  • a phenyl group having a water-soluble substituent such as a carboxyl, sulfonic, polyethylene glycol, carboxylate or sulfonate group is favorable from the viewpoint of improving the water solubility of the compound.
  • alkyl group in R 7 , R 8 , R 10 and R 11 examples thereof include linear, branched or cyclic alkyl groups having 1 to 20 carbon atoms, such as methyl, ethyl, propyl, butyl, pentyl, hexyl, octyl, nonyl, decyl, undecyl, dodecyl, tridecyl, tetradecyl, pentadecyl, hexadecyl, heptadecyl, octadecyl, nonadecyl, cyclopropyl, cyclobutyl and cyclopentyl groups.
  • linear, branched or cyclic alkyl groups having 1 to 20 carbon atoms such as methyl, ethyl, propyl, butyl, pentyl, hexyl, octyl, nonyl, decyl, undecyl, do
  • aryl group in R 7 , R 8 , R 10 and R 11 No particular limitation is imposed on the aryl group in R 7 , R 8 , R 10 and R 11 .
  • examples thereof include 6- to 14-membered monocyclic or polycyclic aryl groups such as phenyl, naphthyl, phenanthryl and anthracenyl groups.
  • halogen atom in R 7 , R 8 , R 10 and R 11 examples include fluorine, chlorine, bromine and iodine atoms.
  • R 7 , R 8 , R 10 and R 11 are each favorably a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group or a halogen atom, and the hydrogen atom is particularly favorable from the viewpoint of stability of the compound.
  • ammonium salt group having a counter anion in R 9 examples thereof include amino groups obtained by converting an amino group to a quaternary salt.
  • examples thereof include halide ions such as fluoride, chloride, bromide and iodide ions; inorganic acid ions such as sulfate, phosphate, nitrate, tetrafluoroborate and hexafluorophosphate ions; Lewis-acid-containing ions such as tetrachloroaluminate ion; and organic acid ions such as acetate, lactate, methanesulfonate, benzenesulfonate, p-toluenesulfonate, trifluoroacetate, trifluoromethanesulfonate and tetraphenylborate ions.
  • R 6 in the molecular structure represented by the general formula (III) is an aromatic ring having a sulfonic or carboxyl group at an ortho position
  • a tautomer of the following general formula (III′) or (III′′) exists.
  • R 7 to R 11 in the general formulae (III′) and (III′′) have the same meanings as R 7 to R 11 in the general formulae (III).
  • R 12 and R 13 are, independently of each other, a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group, an aryl group or a heterocyclic group.
  • R 14 to R 16 are, independently of one another, a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group, an aryl group, a heterocyclic group, a halogen atom or an amino group.
  • alkyl group in R 12 , R 13 , and R 14 to R 16 examples thereof include linear, branched or cyclic alkyl groups having 1 to 20 carbon atoms, such as methyl, ethyl, propyl, butyl, pentyl, hexyl, octyl, nonyl, decyl, undecyl, dodecyl, tridecyl, tetradecyl, pentadecyl, hexadecyl, heptadecyl, octadecyl, nonadecyl, cyclopropyl, cyclobutyl and cyclopentyl groups.
  • linear, branched or cyclic alkyl groups having 1 to 20 carbon atoms such as methyl, ethyl, propyl, butyl, pentyl, hexyl, octyl, nonyl, decyl, undecyl,
  • aryl group in R 12 , R 13 , and R 14 to R 16 No particular limitation is imposed on the aryl group in R 12 , R 13 , and R 14 to R 16 .
  • examples thereof include 6- to 14-membered monocyclic or polycyclic aryl groups such as phenyl, naphthyl, phenanthryl and anthracenyl groups.
  • heterocyclic group in R 12 , R 13 , and R 14 to R 16 No particular limitation is imposed on the heterocyclic group in R 12 , R 13 , and R 14 to R 16 .
  • examples thereof include 4- to 10-membered monocyclic or bicyclic heterocyclic groups containing 1 to 4 atoms selected from nitrogen, oxygen and sulfur.
  • Examples of these groups include pyridyl, pyrazinyl, pyrimidinyl, pyrrolyl, thienyl, furyl, pyranyl, oxazolyl, thiazolyl, triazolyl, tetrazolyl, imidazolyl, pyrazolyl, morpholinyl, thiomorpholinyl, piperidinyl, piperazinyl, quinolyl, isoquinolyl, indolyl, isoindolyl, benzofuryl and benzothienyl groups.
  • R 12 and R 13 are each favorably an alkyl group, with a methyl, ethyl, propyl or butyl group being particularly favorable.
  • halogen atom in R 14 to R 16 examples include fluorine, chlorine, bromine and iodine atoms.
  • amino group in R 14 to R 16 examples thereof include an unsubstituted amino group; mono-substituted amino groups such as N-methylamino, N-butylamino, N-hexylamino, N-tetradecylamino, N-phenylamino and N-naphthylamino groups; di-substituted amino groups such as N,N-dimethylamino, N,N-diethylamino, N,N-diphenylamino and N,N-methylpropylamino groups; carbonylamino groups such as acetylamino, ethylcarbonylamino, tert-butylcarbonylamino, benzoylamino, naphthoylamino and methoxycarbonylamino groups; and sulfonylamino groups such methylsulfonylamino, ethylsulfony
  • R 14 to R 16 are each favorably a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group, a halogen atom or an amino group, with the hydrogen atom being particularly favorable.
  • R 17 and R 18 are, independently of each other, a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group or an alkoxy group.
  • R 19 and R 20 are, independently of each other, a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group, an alkoxy group, a hydroxyl group or a cyano group.
  • R 21 is a heterocyclic group or —CH ⁇ C(R 22 )(R 23 ).
  • R 22 and R 23 are, independently of each other, a hydrogen atom, a cyano group, a heterocyclic group, a carboxyl group or a carboxylate group.
  • R 1 and R 17 , R 2 and R 18 , and R 22 and R 23 may, independently of one another, bond to each other to form a ring.
  • alkyl group in R 17 to R 20 No particular limitation is imposed on the alkyl group in R 17 to R 20 .
  • examples thereof include linear, branched or cyclic alkyl groups having 1 to 20 carbon atoms, such as methyl, ethyl, propyl, butyl, pentyl, hexyl, octyl, nonyl, decyl, undecyl, dodecyl, tridecyl, tetradecyl, pentadecyl, hexadecyl, heptadecyl, octadecyl, nonadecyl, cyclopropyl, cyclobutyl and cyclopentyl groups.
  • alkoxy group in R 17 to R 20 No particular limitation is imposed on the alkoxy group in R 17 to R 20 .
  • examples thereof include alkoxy groups having 1 to 20 carbon atoms, such as methoxy, ethoxy, propoxy, butoxy, pentyloxy, hexyloxy, heptyloxy, octyloxy, nonyloxy, decyloxy, dodecyloxy and octadecyloxy groups.
  • R 17 to R 20 are each favorably a hydrogen atom or an alkoxy group, with the hydrogen atom being particularly favorable from the viewpoint of stability of the compound.
  • heterocyclic group in R 21 to R 23 examples thereof include 4- to 10-membered monocyclic or bicyclic heterocyclic groups containing 1 to 4 atoms selected from nitrogen, oxygen and sulfur.
  • examples of these groups include pyridyl, pyrazinyl, pyrimidinyl, pyrrolyl, thienyl, furyl, pyranyl, oxazolyl, thiazolyl, triazolyl, tetrazolyl, imidazolyl, pyrazolyl, morpholinyl, thiomorpholinyl, piperidinyl, piperazinyl, quinolyl, isoquinolyl, indolyl, isoindolyl, benzofuryl and benzothienyl groups.
  • the heterocyclic group in R 21 is favorably an oxazolyl, thiazolyl or imidazolyl group, with the oxazolyl group being particularly favorable from the viewpoint of staining ability.
  • carboxylate group in R 21 to R 23 No particular limitation is imposed on the carboxylate group in R 21 to R 23 .
  • examples thereof include methyl carboxylate, ethyl carboxylate, propyl carboxylate and butyl carboxylate groups.
  • R 21 to R 23 are each favorably a pyridyl, pyrazinyl, pyrimidinyl, oxazolyl, thiazolyl, triazolyl, tetrazolyl, imidazolyl or pyrazolyl group, with the oxazolyl, thiazolyl or imidazolyl group being particularly favorable from the viewpoint of stability of the compound.
  • examples thereof include aromatic rings having 3 to 10 carbon atoms, such as benzene and naphthalene rings; saturated rings such as cyclooctane, cycloheptane, cyclohexane, cyclopentane and cyclobutane rings; partially saturated rings such as cyclopentene and cyclohexene rings; and heterocycles such as pyridine, tetrahydropyridine and pyrimidine rings.
  • These rings may additionally have substituent(s), and no particular limitation is imposed on the substituent(s) so far as the storage stability of the staining compound is not markedly impaired. Examples thereof include substituents described as “favorable examples of additional substituents” above.
  • the ring favorably has a substituent having such a nature that the water solubility is improved, among these substituents.
  • substituents include carboxyl, sulfonic, polyethylene glycol, carboxylate and sulfonate groups though not limited thereto.
  • the ring formed by bonding, independently of one another, R 1 and R 17 , R 2 and R 18 , and R 22 and R 23 to each other is favorably a heterocycle, with a tetrahydropyridine ring being particularly favorable.
  • R 24 is a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group, an aryl group or a heterocyclic group.
  • alkyl group in R 24 No particular limitation is imposed on the alkyl group in R 24 .
  • examples thereof include linear, branched or cyclic alkyl groups having 1 to 20 carbon atoms, such as methyl, ethyl, propyl, butyl, pentyl, hexyl, octyl, nonyl, decyl, undecyl, dodecyl, tridecyl, tetradecyl, pentadecyl, hexadecyl, heptadecyl, octadecyl, nonadecyl, cyclopropyl, cyclobutyl and cyclopentyl groups.
  • the group may additionally have substituent(s), and no particular limitation is imposed on the substituent(s) so far as the storage stability of the staining compound is not markedly impaired. Examples thereof include substituents described as “favorable examples of additional substituents” above.
  • the group favorably has a substituent having such a nature that the water solubility is improved, among these substituents.
  • a substituent having such a nature that the water solubility is improved, among these substituents.
  • Particularly favorable examples of such a substituent include carboxyl, sulfonic, polyethylene glycol, carboxylate and sulfonate groups though not limited thereto.
  • aryl group in R 24 No particular limitation is imposed on the aryl group in R 24 .
  • examples thereof include 6- to 14-membered monocyclic or polycyclic aryl groups such as phenyl, naphthyl, phenanthryl and anthracenyl groups.
  • heterocyclic group in R 24 examples thereof include 4- to 10-membered monocyclic or bicyclic heterocyclic groups containing 1 to 4 atoms selected from nitrogen, oxygen and sulfur.
  • examples of these groups include pyridyl, pyrazinyl, pyrimidinyl, pyrrolyl, thienyl, furyl, pyranyl, oxazolyl, thiazolyl, triazolyl, tetrazolyl, imidazolyl, pyrazolyl, morpholinyl, thiomorpholinyl, piperidinyl, piperazinyl, quinolyl, isoquinolyl, indolyl, isoindolyl, benzofuryl and benzothienyl groups.
  • R 24 is favorably an alkyl group, with a methyl, ethyl, propyl, butyl, pentyl or hexyl group being particularly favorable from the viewpoint of stability of the compound.
  • R 25 is an oxygen atom, a sulfur atom or N(R 27 ).
  • R 26 is a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group, an alkoxy group or a sulfonic group.
  • R 27 is a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group or an aryl group.
  • R 25 is favorably an oxygen atom or N(R 27 ), with NH being particularly favorable from the viewpoint of staining ability.
  • alkyl group in R 26 and R 27 examples thereof include linear, branched or cyclic alkyl groups having 1 to 20 carbon atoms, such as methyl, ethyl, propyl, butyl, pentyl, hexyl, octyl, nonyl, decyl, undecyl, dodecyl, tridecyl, tetradecyl, pentadecyl, hexadecyl, heptadecyl, octadecyl, nonadecyl, cyclopropyl, cyclobutyl and cyclopentyl groups.
  • linear, branched or cyclic alkyl groups having 1 to 20 carbon atoms such as methyl, ethyl, propyl, butyl, pentyl, hexyl, octyl, nonyl, decyl, undecyl, dodecyl, tridec
  • alkoxy group in R 26 No particular limitation is imposed on the alkoxy group in R 26 .
  • examples thereof include alkoxy groups having 1 to 20 carbon atoms, such as methoxy, ethoxy, propoxy, butoxy, pentyloxy, hexyloxy, heptyloxy, octyloxy, nonyloxy, decyloxy, dodecyloxy and octadecyloxy groups.
  • R 26 is favorably a hydrogen atom or a sulfonic group, with the hydrogen atom being particularly favorable.
  • aryl group in R 27 No particular limitation is imposed on the aryl group in R 27 .
  • examples thereof include 6- to 14-membered monocyclic or polycyclic aryl groups such as phenyl, naphthyl, phenanthryl and anthracenyl groups.
  • R 28 is a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group or an aryl group.
  • alkyl group in R 28 No particular limitation is imposed on the alkyl group in R 28 .
  • examples thereof include linear, branched or cyclic alkyl groups having 1 to 20 carbon atoms, such as methyl, ethyl, propyl, butyl, pentyl, hexyl, octyl, nonyl, decyl, undecyl, dodecyl, tridecyl, tetradecyl, pentadecyl, hexadecyl, heptadecyl, octadecyl, nonadecyl, cyclopropyl, cyclobutyl and cyclopentyl groups.
  • the group may additionally have substituent(s), and no particular limitation is imposed on the substituent(s) so far as the storage stability of the staining compound is not markedly impaired. Examples thereof include substituents described as “favorable examples of additional substituents” above.
  • the group favorably has a substituent having such a nature that the water solubility is improved, among these substituents.
  • a substituent having such a nature that the water solubility is improved, among these substituents.
  • Particularly favorable examples of such a substituent include carboxyl, sulfonic, polyethylene glycol, carboxylate and sulfonate groups though not limited thereto.
  • aryl group in R 28 No particular limitation is imposed on the aryl group in R 28 .
  • examples thereof include 6- to 14-membered monocyclic or polycyclic aryl groups such as phenyl, naphthyl, phenanthryl and anthracenyl groups.
  • R 28 ′ is a halogen atom, an alkoxy group or an aryloxy group.
  • the halogen atom in R 28 ′ is a chlorine, bromine or iodine atom.
  • alkoxy group in R 28 ′ No particular limitation is imposed on the alkoxy group in R 28 ′.
  • examples thereof include alkoxy groups having 1 to 20 carbon atoms, such as methoxy, ethoxy, propoxy, butoxy, pentyloxy, decyloxy, hexyloxy, heptyloxy, octyloxy, nonyloxy, decyloxy, dodecyloxy and octadecyloxy groups.
  • the group may additionally have substituent(s), and no particular limitation is imposed on the substituent(s) so far as the storage stability of the staining compound is not markedly impaired. Examples thereof include substituents described as “favorable examples of additional substituents” above.
  • the group favorably has a substituent having such a nature that the water solubility is improved, among these substituents.
  • a substituent having such a nature that the water solubility is improved, among these substituents.
  • Particularly favorable examples of such a substituent include carboxyl, sulfonic, polyethylene glycol, carboxylate and sulfonate groups though not limited thereto.
  • aryl group in R 28 ′ No particular limitation is imposed on the aryl group in R 28 ′.
  • examples thereof include 6- to 14-membered monocyclic or polycyclic aryl groups such as phenyl, naphthyl, phenanthryl and anthracenyl groups.
  • R 29 is a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group or an aryl group.
  • alkyl group in R 29 No particular limitation is imposed on the alkyl group in R 29 .
  • examples thereof include linear, branched or cyclic alkyl groups having 1 to 20 carbon atoms, such as methyl, ethyl, propyl, butyl, pentyl, hexyl, octyl, nonyl, decyl, undecyl, dodecyl, tridecyl, tetradecyl, pentadecyl, hexadecyl, heptadecyl, octadecyl, nonadecyl, cyclopropyl, cyclobutyl and cyclopentyl groups.
  • the group may additionally have substituent(s), and no particular limitation is imposed on the substituent(s) so far as the storage stability of the staining compound is not markedly impaired. Examples thereof include substituents described as “favorable examples of additional substituents” above.
  • the group favorably has a substituent having such a nature that the water solubility is improved, among these substituents.
  • a substituent having such a nature that the water solubility is improved, among these substituents.
  • Particularly favorable examples of such a substituent include carboxyl, sulfonic, polyethylene glycol, carboxylate and sulfonate groups though not limited thereto.
  • aryl group in R 29 No particular limitation is imposed on the aryl group in R 29 .
  • examples thereof include 6- to 14-membered monocyclic or polycyclic aryl groups such as phenyl, naphthyl, phenanthryl and anthracenyl groups.
  • R 1 and R 2 in the general formula (I) bond to each other to form one substituent group: ⁇ N—R 30 .
  • R 30 is an aryl group or a heterocyclic group.
  • R 31 and R 32 are individually a sulfonic group or a salt thereof.
  • R 33 and R 34 are individually a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group, an alkoxy group or a halogen atom.
  • alkyl group in R 33 and R 34 examples thereof include linear, branched or cyclic alkyl groups having 1 to 20 carbon atoms, such as methyl, ethyl, propyl, butyl, pentyl, hexyl, octyl, nonyl, decyl, undecyl, dodecyl, tridecyl, tetradecyl, pentadecyl, hexadecyl, heptadecyl, octadecyl, nonadecyl, cyclopropyl, cyclobutyl and cyclopentyl groups.
  • linear, branched or cyclic alkyl groups having 1 to 20 carbon atoms such as methyl, ethyl, propyl, butyl, pentyl, hexyl, octyl, nonyl, decyl, undecyl, dodecyl, tridec
  • alkoxy group in R 33 to R 34 No particular limitation is imposed on the alkoxy group in R 33 to R 34 .
  • examples thereof include alkoxy groups having 1 to 20 carbon atoms, such as methoxy, ethoxy, propoxy, butoxy, pentyloxy, decyloxy, hexyloxy, heptyloxy, octyloxy, nonyloxy, decyloxy, dodecyloxy and octadecyloxy groups.
  • halogen atom in R 33 and R 34 examples include fluorine, chlorine, bromine and iodine atoms.
  • R 33 to R 34 are each favorably a hydrogen atom, an alkoxy group or a halogen atom, with the hydrogen atom being particularly favorable.
  • aryl group in R 30 No particular limitation is imposed on the aryl group in R 30 .
  • examples thereof include 6- to 14-membered monocyclic or polycyclic aryl groups such as phenyl, naphthyl, phenanthryl and anthracenyl groups.
  • R 30 is favorably an aryl group, with a naphthyl group being particularly favorable.
  • R 3 and R 4 are, independently of each other, a hydrogen atom, an alkenyl group, a cyano group, a carboxyl group, a carboxylate group, a sulfonic group, an acyl group or a heterocyclic group. R 3 and R 4 may bond to each other to form a ring.
  • R 5 is a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group, an aryl group or a heterocyclic group.
  • alkenyl group in R 3 and R 4 of the general formula (II) No particular limitation is imposed on the alkenyl group in R 3 and R 4 of the general formula (II).
  • examples thereof include alkenyl groups having 2 to 20 carbon atoms, such as vinyl, 2,2-diphenylvinyl, 3-butenyl and cyclohexenyl groups.
  • carboxylate group in R 3 and R 4 No particular limitation is imposed on the carboxylate group in R 3 and R 4 .
  • examples thereof include methyl carboxylate, ethyl carboxylate, propyl carboxylate and butyl carboxylate groups.
  • acyl group in R 3 and R 4 No particular limitation is imposed on the acyl group in R 3 and R 4 .
  • examples thereof include acetyl, propionyl, butyryl, pentanoyl, benzoyl, 1-naphthoyl and 2-naphthoyl groups.
  • heterocyclic group in R 3 and R 4 examples thereof include 4- to 10-membered monocyclic or bicyclic heterocyclic groups containing 1 to 4 atoms selected from nitrogen, oxygen and sulfur.
  • examples of these groups include pyridyl, pyrazinyl, pyrimidinyl, pyrrolyl, thienyl, furyl, pyranyl, oxazolyl, thiazolyl, triazolyl, tetrazolyl, imidazolyl, pyrazolyl, morpholinyl, thiomorpholinyl, piperidinyl, piperazinyl, quinolyl, isoquinolyl, indolyl, isoindolyl, benzofuryl and benzothienyl groups.
  • R 3 and R 4 is favorably a cyano, carboxyl or heterocyclic group from the viewpoint of ease of synthesis of the compound, and either one of R 3 and R 4 is particularly favorably a cyano group.
  • R 3 and R 4 are favorably such that one of them is a hydrogen atom and the other is a heterocyclic group of the general formula (XI).
  • R 35 is an alkyl group or an aryl group
  • R 36 to R 39 are, independently of one another, a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group, an aryl group, an alkoxy group, a carboxyl group, a sulfonic group, a heterocyclic group, an amino group or a halogen atom
  • R 36 and R 37 , R 37 and R 38 , or R 38 and R 39 may bond to each other to form a ring
  • X ⁇ is an anionic group
  • Q 1 is a sulfur atom, an oxygen atom, —C(R 40 )(R 41 )—, —CH ⁇ CH— or —N(R 42 )—, in which R 40 to R 42 are individually a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group or an aryl group, and R 40 and R 41 may bond to each other to form a ring.
  • alkyl group in R 35 , and R 36 to R 39 examples thereof include linear, branched or cyclic alkyl groups having 1 to 20 carbon atoms, such as methyl, ethyl, propyl, butyl, pentyl, hexyl, octyl, nonyl, decyl, undecyl, dodecyl, tridecyl, tetradecyl, pentadecyl, hexadecyl, heptadecyl, octadecyl, nonadecyl, cyclopropyl, cyclobutyl and cyclopentyl groups.
  • linear, branched or cyclic alkyl groups having 1 to 20 carbon atoms such as methyl, ethyl, propyl, butyl, pentyl, hexyl, octyl, nonyl, decyl, undecyl, dodecy
  • aryl group in R 35 , and R 36 to R 39 No particular limitation is imposed on the aryl group in R 35 , and R 36 to R 39 .
  • examples thereof include 6- to 14-membered monocyclic or polycyclic aryl groups such as phenyl, naphthyl, phenanthryl and anthracenyl groups.
  • R 35 may additionally have substituent(s), and no particular limitation is imposed on the substituent(s) so far as the storage stability of the staining compound is not markedly impaired. Examples thereof include substituents described as “favorable examples of additional substituents” above.
  • the group favorably has a substituent having such a nature that the water solubility is improved, among these substituents.
  • a substituent having such a nature that the water solubility is improved, among these substituents.
  • Particularly favorable examples of such a substituent include carboxyl, sulfonic, polyethylene glycol, carboxylate and sulfonate groups though not limited thereto.
  • R 35 is favorably an alkyl group, and it is favorable that the alkyl group additionally has a substituent such as a carboxyl, sulfonic, polyethylene glycol, carboxylate or sulfonate group, since the water solubility of the resulting compound is increased, and the fluorescence intensity thereof is also increased.
  • a substituent such as a carboxyl, sulfonic, polyethylene glycol, carboxylate or sulfonate group
  • alkoxy group in R 36 to R 39 No particular limitation is imposed on the alkoxy group in R 36 to R 39 .
  • examples thereof include alkoxy groups having 1 to 20 carbon atoms, such as methoxy, ethoxy, propoxy, butoxy, pentyloxy, decyloxy, hexyloxy, heptyloxy, octyloxy, nonyloxy, decyloxy, dodecyloxy and octadecyloxy groups.
  • heterocyclic group in R 36 to R 39 examples thereof include 4- to 10-membered monocyclic or bicyclic heterocyclic groups containing 1 to 4 atoms selected from nitrogen, oxygen and sulfur.
  • examples of these groups include pyridyl, pyrazinyl, pyrimidinyl, pyrrolyl, thienyl, furyl, pyranyl, oxazolyl, thiazolyl, triazolyl, tetrazolyl, imidazolyl, pyrazolyl, morpholinyl, thiomorpholinyl, piperidinyl, piperazinyl, quinolyl, isoquinolyl, indolyl, isoindolyl, benzofuryl and benzothienyl groups.
  • amino group in R 36 to R 39 examples thereof include an unsubstituted amino group; mono-substituted amino groups such as N-methylamino, N-butylamino, N-hexylamino, N-tetradecylamino, N-phenylamino and N-naphthylamino groups; di-substituted amino groups such as N,N-dimethylamino, N,N-diethylamino, N,N-diphenylamino and N,N-methylpropylamino groups; carbonylamino groups such as acetylamino, ethylcarbonylamino, tert-butylcarbonylamino, benzoylamino, naphthoylamino and methoxycarbonylamino groups; and sulfonylamino groups such methylsulfonylamino, ethylsulfony
  • halogen atom in R 36 to R 39 examples include fluorine, chlorine, bromine and iodine atoms.
  • R 36 to R 39 are each favorably a hydrogen atom, a carboxyl group, a sulfonic group, an amino group or a halogen atom, and a hydrogen atom or a sulfonic group is particularly favorable because the water solubility of the resulting compound is improved.
  • examples thereof include aromatic rings having 3 to 10 carbon atoms, such as benzene and naphthalene rings; saturated rings such as cyclooctane, cycloheptane, cyclohexane, cyclopentane and cyclobutane rings; partially saturated rings such as cyclopentene and cyclohexene rings; and heterocycles such as pyridine and pyrimidine rings.
  • the ring may additionally have substituent(s), and no particular limitation is imposed on the substituent(s) so far as the storage stability of the staining compound is not markedly impaired. Examples thereof include substituents described as “favorable examples of additional substituents” above.
  • the ring favorably has a substituent having such a nature that the water solubility is improved, among these substituents.
  • substituents include carboxyl, sulfonic, polyethylene glycol, carboxylate and sulfonate groups though not limited thereto.
  • the ring formed by bonding R 36 and R 37 , R 37 and R 38 , or R 38 and R 39 to each other is favorably a benzene ring because the storage stability of the resulting compound is improved.
  • X ⁇ is an anionic group.
  • anionic group examples thereof include halide ions such as fluoride, chloride, bromide and iodide ions; inorganic acid ions such as sulfate, phosphate, nitrate, tetrafluoroborate and hexafluorophosphate ions; Lewis-acid-containing ions such as tetrachloroaluminate ion; and organic acid ions such as acetate, lactate, methanesulfonate, benzenesulfonate, p-toluenesulfonate, trifluoroacetate, trifluoromethanesulfonate and tetraphenylborate ions.
  • halide ions such as fluoride, chloride, bromide and iodide ions
  • inorganic acid ions such as sulfate, phosphate, nitrate, tetrafluoroborate and he
  • the anionic group of X ⁇ is favorably a chloride, bromide, iodide, sulfate, nitrate or methanesulfonate ion and more favorably a bromide or iodide ion from the viewpoint of ease of synthesis of the compound.
  • Q 1 is a sulfur atom, oxygen atom, —C(R 40 )(R 41 )—, —CH ⁇ CH— or —N(R 42 )—.
  • alkyl group in R 40 to R 42 examples thereof include linear, branched or cyclic alkyl groups having 1 to 20 carbon atoms, such as methyl, ethyl, propyl, butyl, pentyl, hexyl, octyl, nonyl, decyl, undecyl, dodecyl, tridecyl, tetradecyl, pentadecyl, hexadecyl, heptadecyl, octadecyl, nonadecyl, cyclopropyl, cyclobutyl and cyclopentyl groups.
  • linear, branched or cyclic alkyl groups having 1 to 20 carbon atoms such as methyl, ethyl, propyl, butyl, pentyl, hexyl, octyl, nonyl, decyl, undecyl, dodecyl, tridec
  • aryl group in R 40 to R 42 No particular limitation is imposed on the aryl group in R 40 to R 42 .
  • examples thereof include 6- to 14-membered monocyclic or polycyclic aryl groups such as phenyl, naphthyl, phenanthryl and anthracenyl groups.
  • R 40 and R 41 in Q 1 may bond to each other to form a ring, and examples thereof include cyclohexane, piperidine and piperidinium rings.
  • Q 1 is particularly favorably an oxygen atom, sulfur atom or —C(CH 3 )(CH 3 )— because the storage stability of the compound is improved.
  • the ring formed by bonding R 3 and R 4 in the general formula (II) to each other is represented by any one of the following general formulae (XII), (XIII) and (XV).
  • R 43 is a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group, an aryl group or a heterocyclic group
  • R 44 is an alkyl group, an aryl group, a carboxyl group, a carboxylate group, a hydroxyl group or an amino group.
  • alkyl group in R 43 and R 44 examples thereof include linear, branched or cyclic alkyl groups having 1 to 20 carbon atoms, such as methyl, ethyl, propyl, butyl, pentyl, hexyl, octyl, nonyl, decyl, undecyl, dodecyl, tridecyl, tetradecyl, pentadecyl, hexadecyl, heptadecyl, octadecyl, nonadecyl, cyclopropyl, cyclobutyl and cyclopentyl groups.
  • linear, branched or cyclic alkyl groups having 1 to 20 carbon atoms such as methyl, ethyl, propyl, butyl, pentyl, hexyl, octyl, nonyl, decyl, undecyl, dodecyl, tridec
  • aryl group in R 43 and R 44 No particular limitation is imposed on the aryl group in R 43 and R 44 .
  • examples thereof include 6- to 14-membered monocyclic or polycyclic aryl groups such as phenyl, naphthyl, phenanthryl and anthracenyl groups.
  • the ring may additionally have substituent(s), and no particular limitation is imposed on the substituent(s) so far as the storage stability of the staining compound is not markedly impaired. Examples thereof include substituents described as “favorable examples of additional substituents” above.
  • the ring favorably has a substituent having such a nature that the water solubility is improved, among these substituents.
  • substituents include carboxyl, sulfonic, polyethylene glycol, carboxylate and sulfonate groups though not limited thereto.
  • heterocyclic group in R 43 examples thereof include 4- to 10-membered monocyclic or bicyclic heterocyclic groups containing 1 to 4 atoms selected from nitrogen, oxygen and sulfur.
  • examples of these groups include pyridyl, pyrazinyl, pyrimidinyl, pyrrolyl, thienyl, furyl, pyranyl, oxazolyl, thiazolyl, triazolyl, tetrazolyl, imidazolyl, pyrazolyl, morpholinyl, thiomorpholinyl, piperidinyl, piperazinyl, quinolyl, isoquinolyl, indolyl, isoindolyl, benzofuryl and benzothienyl groups.
  • R 43 is favorably an aryl group from the viewpoint of stability of the compound. It is also favorable that the aryl group has a water-soluble substituent such as a carboxyl group, since the water solubility of the compound is improved.
  • carboxylate group in R 44 No particular limitation is imposed on the carboxylate group in R 44 .
  • examples thereof include methyl carboxylate, ethyl carboxylate, propyl carboxylate and butyl carboxylate groups.
  • amino group in R 44 No particular limitation is imposed on the amino group in R 44 .
  • examples thereof include an unsubstituted amino group; mono-substituted amino groups such as N-methylamino, N-butylamino, N-hexylamino, N-tetradecylamino, N-phenylamino and N-naphthylamino groups; di-substituted amino groups such as N,N-dimethylamino, N,N-diethylamino, N,N-diphenylamino and N,N-methylpropylamino groups; carbonylamino groups such as acetylamino, ethylcarbonylamino, tert-butylcarbonylamino, benzoylamino, naphthoylamino and methoxycarbonylamino groups; and sulfonylamino groups such methylsulfonylamino, ethylsul
  • R 44 is favorably an alkyl, aryl, carboxyl or amino group from the viewpoint of easy of synthesis of the compound, with the alkyl or carboxyl group being particularly favorable.
  • Q 2 is an oxygen atom, a sulfur atom or —N(R 52 )—.
  • R 45 is a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group, an aryl group or a heterocyclic group
  • R 46 is a sulfur atom, an oxygen atom, ⁇ NR 53 , a heterocyclic group or a dicyanomethylene group
  • R 52 and R 53 are individually a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group, an aryl group or a heterocyclic group.
  • alkyl group in R 45 , R 52 and R 53 No particular limitation is imposed on the alkyl group in R 45 , R 52 and R 53 .
  • examples thereof include linear, branched or cyclic alkyl groups having 1 to 20 carbon atoms, such as methyl, ethyl, propyl, butyl, pentyl, hexyl, octyl, nonyl, decyl, undecyl, dodecyl, tridecyl, tetradecyl, pentadecyl, hexadecyl, heptadecyl, octadecyl, nonadecyl, cyclopropyl, cyclobutyl and cyclopentyl groups.
  • the group may additionally have substituent(s), and no particular limitation is imposed on the substituent(s) so far as the storage stability of the staining compound is not markedly impaired. Examples thereof include substituents described as “favorable examples of additional substituents” above.
  • the group favorably has a substituent having such a nature that the water solubility is improved, among these substituents.
  • a substituent having such a nature that the water solubility is improved, among these substituents.
  • Particularly favorable examples of such a substituent include carboxyl, sulfonic, polyethylene glycol, carboxylate and sulfonate groups though not limited thereto.
  • aryl group in R 45 , R 52 and R 53 No particular limitation is imposed on the aryl group in R 45 , R 52 and R 53 .
  • examples thereof include 6- to 14-membered monocyclic or polycyclic aryl groups such as phenyl, naphthyl, phenanthryl and anthracenyl groups.
  • heterocyclic group in R 45 , R 52 and R 53 examples thereof include 4- to 10-membered monocyclic or bicyclic heterocyclic groups containing 1 to 4 atoms selected from nitrogen, oxygen and sulfur.
  • examples of these groups include pyridyl, pyrazinyl, pyrimidinyl, pyrrolyl, thienyl, furyl, pyranyl, oxazolyl, thiazolyl, triazolyl, tetrazolyl, imidazolyl, pyrazolyl, morpholinyl, thiomorpholinyl, piperidinyl, piperazinyl, quinolyl, isoquinolyl, indolyl, isoindolyl, benzofuryl and benzothienyl groups.
  • R 45 is favorably an alkyl group, and it is favorable that the alkyl group additionally has a substituent such as a carboxyl, sulfonic, polyethylene glycol, carboxylate or sulfonate group, since the water solubility of the resulting compound is increased, and the fluorescence intensity thereof is also increased.
  • a substituent such as a carboxyl, sulfonic, polyethylene glycol, carboxylate or sulfonate group
  • R 46 is favorably a sulfur atom, oxygen atom or heterocycle.
  • R 46 is a sulfur atom, since the compound tends to improve the staining ability thereof, and that R 46 is 2-thioxothiazolidin-4-one having a substituent at the 3-position, since detection of a maximum fluorescence wavelength is often conducted in such a larger wavelength region as a near-infrared wavelength region, so that the compound can be used in near-infrared applications.
  • R 49 and R 50 are, independently of each other, a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group or an aryl group, and R 51 is an oxygen atom or a sulfur atom.
  • alkyl group in R 49 and R 50 examples thereof include linear, branched or cyclic alkyl groups having 1 to 20 carbon atoms, such as methyl, ethyl, propyl, butyl, pentyl, hexyl, octyl, nonyl, decyl, undecyl, dodecyl, tridecyl, tetradecyl, pentadecyl, hexadecyl, heptadecyl, octadecyl, nonadecyl, cyclopropyl, cyclobutyl and cyclopentyl groups.
  • linear, branched or cyclic alkyl groups having 1 to 20 carbon atoms such as methyl, ethyl, propyl, butyl, pentyl, hexyl, octyl, nonyl, decyl, undecyl, dodecyl, tridec
  • aryl group in R 49 and R 50 No particular limitation is imposed on the aryl group in R 49 and R 50 .
  • examples thereof include 6- to 14-membered monocyclic or polycyclic aryl groups such as phenyl, naphthyl, phenanthryl and anthracenyl groups.
  • B is a structure represented by any one of the following general formulae (XVI) to (XVIV) and (XVII′)
  • R 54 is a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group, an aralkyl group, an alkenyl group, an aryl group, a heterocyclic group or an acyl group.
  • R 55 to R 58 are, independently of one another, a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group, an aryl group, a carboxyl group, a carboxylate group or an acyl group, and R 55 and R 57 may bond to each other to form a ring.
  • R 59 is a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group, an alkoxy group or a halogen atom.
  • alkyl group in R 54 , R 55 to R 58 , and R 59 examples thereof include linear, branched or cyclic alkyl groups having 1 to 20 carbon atoms, such as methyl, ethyl, propyl, butyl, pentyl, hexyl, octyl, nonyl, decyl, undecyl, dodecyl, tridecyl, tetradecyl, pentadecyl, hexadecyl, heptadecyl, octadecyl, nonadecyl, cyclopropyl, cyclobutyl and cyclopentyl groups.
  • linear, branched or cyclic alkyl groups having 1 to 20 carbon atoms such as methyl, ethyl, propyl, butyl, pentyl, hexyl, octyl, nonyl, decyl, undecy
  • R 54 No particular limitation is imposed on the aralkyl group in R 54 .
  • examples thereof include benzyl and phenethyl groups.
  • alkenyl groups in R 54 include alkenyl groups having 2 to 20 carbon atoms, such as vinyl, 2,2-diphenylvinyl, 3-butenyl and cyclohexenyl groups.
  • aryl group in R 54 , and R 55 to R 58 examples thereof include 6- to 14-membered monocyclic or polycyclic aryl groups such as phenyl, naphthyl, phenanthryl and anthracenyl groups.
  • heterocyclic group in R 54 examples thereof include 4- to 10-membered monocyclic or bicyclic heterocyclic groups containing 1 to 4 atoms selected from nitrogen, oxygen and sulfur.
  • examples of these groups include pyridyl, pyrazinyl, pyrimidinyl, pyrrolyl, thienyl, furyl, pyranyl, oxazolyl, thiazolyl, triazolyl, tetrazolyl, imidazolyl, pyrazolyl, morpholinyl, thiomorpholinyl, piperidinyl, piperazinyl, quinolyl, isoquinolyl, indolyl, isoindolyl, benzofuryl and benzothienyl groups.
  • acyl group in R 54 , and R 55 to R 58 No particular limitation is imposed on the acyl group in R 54 , and R 55 to R 58 .
  • examples thereof include acetyl, propionyl, butyryl, pentanoyl, benzoyl, 1-naphthoyl and 2-naphthoyl groups.
  • R 54 , and R 55 to R 58 may additionally have substituent(s), and no particular limitation is imposed on the substituent(s) so far as the storage stability of the staining compound is not markedly impaired. Examples thereof include substituents described as “favorable examples of additional substituents” above.
  • the groups favorably have a substituent having such a nature that the water solubility is improved, among these substituents.
  • a substituent having such a nature that the water solubility is improved include carboxyl, sulfonic, polyethylene glycol, carboxylate and sulfonate groups though not limited thereto.
  • R 54 , and R 55 to R 58 may be selected independently of one another and arbitrarily from the substituents mentioned above.
  • the aralkyl, alkenyl or aryl group is favorable because the fluorescence intensity of the resulting compound becomes strong.
  • Favorable specific examples thereof include phenyl, bromophenyl, benzyl, bromobenzyl, methylthiophenyl, methoxyphenyl, methoxynaphthyl, benzylphenyl, 2,2-diphenylvinyl and 2,2-diphenylvinylphenyl groups.
  • More favorable examples thereof include phenyl, bromophenyl, benzyl, methylthiophenyl, methoxyphenyl and methoxynaphthyl groups, with the methylthiophenyl group being particularly favorable because a tendency for a Stokes shift (a difference between maximum excitation wavelength and maximum fluorescence wavelength) to remarkably become large is recognized.
  • carboxylate group in R 55 to R 58 No particular limitation is imposed on the carboxylate group in R 55 to R 58 .
  • examples thereof include methyl carboxylate, ethyl carboxylate, propyl carboxylate and butyl carboxylate groups.
  • examples thereof include saturated aliphatic rings such as cyclooctane, cycloheptane, cyclohexane, cyclopentane and cyclobutane rings; and partially saturated aliphatic rings such as cyclopentene and cyclohexene rings.
  • These rings may additionally have substituent(s), and no particular limitation is imposed on the substituent(s) so far as the storage stability of the staining compound is not markedly impaired. Examples thereof include substituents described as “favorable examples of additional substituents” above.
  • the ring favorably has a substituent having such a nature that the water solubility is improved, among these substituents.
  • substituents include carboxyl, sulfonic, polyethylene glycol, carboxylate and sulfonate groups though not limited thereto.
  • R 55 to R 58 are, independently of each other, a hydrogen atom, alkyl group or aryl group, and R 55 and R 57 bond to each other to form a ring. It is more favorable that R 55 and R 57 bond to each other to form a ring, since the resulting compound becomes stable in chemical structure.
  • Specific examples of the ring include cyclooctane, cycloheptane, cyclohexane, cyclopentane and cyclobutane rings, and the cyclopentane ring is more favorable from the viewpoint of storage stability.
  • alkoxy group in R 59 No particular limitation is imposed on the alkoxy group in R 59 .
  • examples thereof include alkoxy groups having 1 to 20 carbon atoms, such as methoxy, ethoxy, propoxy, butoxy, pentyloxy, hexyloxy, heptyloxy, octyloxy, nonyloxy, decyloxy, dodecyloxy and octadecyloxy groups.
  • halogen atom in R 59 examples include fluorine, chlorine, bromine and iodine atoms.
  • R 59 is favorably a hydrogen atom, a halogen atom or an alkoxy group, with the hydrogen or halogen atom being more favorable.
  • R 60 is a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group or an aryl group.
  • R 61 to R 64 are, independently of one another, a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group, an aryl group, an alkoxy group, a carboxyl group, a sulfonic group, a heterocyclic group, an amino group or a halogen atom.
  • R 61 and R 62 , R 62 and R 63 , or R 63 and R 64 may bond to each other to form a ring.
  • alkyl group in R 60 , and R 61 to R 64 examples thereof include linear, branched or cyclic alkyl groups having 1 to 20 carbon atoms, such as methyl, ethyl, propyl, butyl, pentyl, hexyl, octyl, nonyl, decyl, undecyl, dodecyl, tridecyl, tetradecyl, pentadecyl, hexadecyl, heptadecyl, octadecyl, nonadecyl, cyclopropyl, cyclobutyl and cyclopentyl groups.
  • linear, branched or cyclic alkyl groups having 1 to 20 carbon atoms such as methyl, ethyl, propyl, butyl, pentyl, hexyl, octyl, nonyl, decyl, undecyl, dodec
  • aryl group in R 60 and R 61 to R 64 .
  • examples thereof include 6- to 14-membered monocyclic or polycyclic aryl groups such as phenyl, naphthyl, phenanthryl and anthracenyl groups.
  • R 60 may additionally have substituent(s), and no particular limitation is imposed on the substituent(s) so far as the storage stability of the staining compound is not markedly impaired. Examples thereof include substituents described as “favorable examples of additional substituents” above.
  • the group favorably has a substituent having such a nature that the water solubility is improved, among these substituents.
  • a substituent having such a nature that the water solubility is improved, among these substituents.
  • Particularly favorable examples of such a substituent include carboxyl, sulfonic, polyethylene glycol, carboxylate and sulfonate groups though not limited thereto.
  • R 60 is favorably an alkyl group, and it is favorable that the alkyl group additionally has a substituent such as a carboxyl, sulfonic, polyethylene glycol, carboxylate or sulfonate group, since the water solubility of the resulting compound is increased, and the fluorescence intensity thereof is also increased.
  • a substituent such as a carboxyl, sulfonic, polyethylene glycol, carboxylate or sulfonate group
  • alkoxy group in R 61 to R 64 No particular limitation is imposed on the alkoxy group in R 61 to R 64 .
  • examples thereof include alkoxy groups having 1 to 20 carbon atoms, such as methoxy, ethoxy, propoxy, butoxy, pentyloxy, hexyloxy, heptyloxy, octyloxy, nonyloxy, decyloxy, dodecyloxy and octadecyloxy groups.
  • heterocyclic group in R 61 to R 64 examples thereof include 4- to 10-membered monocyclic or bicyclic heterocyclic groups containing 1 to 4 atoms selected from nitrogen, oxygen and sulfur.
  • examples of these groups include pyridyl, pyrazinyl, pyrimidinyl, pyrrolyl, thienyl, furyl, pyranyl, oxazolyl, thiazolyl, triazolyl, tetrazolyl, imidazolyl, pyrazolyl, morpholinyl, thiomorpholinyl, piperidinyl, piperazinyl, quinolyl, isoquinolyl, indolyl, isoindolyl, benzofuryl and benzothienyl groups.
  • R 61 to R 64 No particular limitation is imposed on the amino group in R 61 to R 64 .
  • examples thereof include an unsubstituted amino group; mono-substituted amino groups such as N-methylamino, N-butylamino, N-hexylamino, N-tetradecylamino, N-phenylamino and N-naphthylamino groups; di-substituted amino groups such as N,N-dimethylamino, N,N-diethylamino, N,N-diphenylamino and N,N-methylpropylamino groups; carbonylamino groups such as acetylamino, ethylcarbonylamino, tert-butylcarbonylamino, benzoylamino, naphthoylamino and methoxycarbonylamino groups; and sulfonylamino groups such methylsulfonylamino, e
  • halogen atom in R 61 to R 64 examples include fluorine, chlorine, bromine and iodine atoms.
  • R 61 to R 64 are each favorably a hydrogen atom, a carboxyl group, a sulfonic group, an amino group or a halogen atom, and a hydrogen atom or a sulfonic group is particularly favorable because the water solubility of the resulting compound is improved.
  • R 61 and R 62 , R 62 and R 63 , or R 63 and R 64 examples thereof include aromatic rings having 3 to 10 carbon atoms, such as benzene and naphthalene rings; saturated rings such as cyclooctane, cycloheptane, cyclohexane, cyclopentane and cyclobutane rings; partially saturated rings such as cyclopentene and cyclohexene rings; and heterocycles such as pyridine and pyrimidine rings.
  • the ring may additionally have substituent(s), and no particular limitation is imposed on the substituent(s) so far as the storage stability of the staining compound is not markedly impaired. Examples thereof include substituents described as “favorable examples of additional substituents” above.
  • the ring favorably has a substituent having such a nature that the water solubility is improved, among these substituents.
  • substituents include carboxyl, sulfonic, polyethylene glycol, carboxylate and sulfonate groups though not limited thereto.
  • the ring formed by bonding R 61 and R 62 , R 62 and R 63 , or R 63 and R 64 to each other is favorably a benzene ring because the storage stability of the resulting compound is improved.
  • Q 3 is a sulfur atom, an oxygen atom, —C(R 65 )(R 66 )— or —CH ⁇ CH—, in which R 65 and R 66 bond to each other to form a ring.
  • Examples of the ring formed by bonding R 65 and R 66 in Q 3 to each other include cyclohexane, piperidine and piperidinium rings.
  • Q 3 is favorably a sulfur atom, oxygen atom or —C(R 65 )(R 66 )—, and particularly favorably an oxygen atom or sulfur atom.
  • R 60 ′ is a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group or an aryl group
  • Q 3 ′ is a sulfur atom or an oxygen atom.
  • Dotted lines in the general formula (XVII′) represent the case where a benzene ring is present or absent.
  • alkyl group in R 60 ′ No particular limitation is imposed on the alkyl group in R 60 ′.
  • examples thereof include linear, branched or cyclic alkyl groups having 1 to 20 carbon atoms, such as methyl, ethyl, propyl, butyl, pentyl, hexyl, octyl, nonyl, decyl, undecyl, dodecyl, tridecyl, tetradecyl, pentadecyl, hexadecyl, heptadecyl, octadecyl, nonadecyl, cyclopropyl, cyclobutyl and cyclopentyl groups.
  • aryl group in R 60 ′ No particular limitation is imposed on the aryl group in R 60 ′.
  • examples thereof include 6- to 14-membered monocyclic or polycyclic aryl groups such as phenyl, naphthyl, phenanthryl and anthracenyl groups.
  • R 60 ′ may additionally have substituent(s), and no particular limitation is imposed on the substituent(s) so far as the storage stability of the staining compound is not markedly impaired. Examples thereof include substituents described as “favorable examples of additional substituents” above.
  • the group favorably has a substituent having such a nature that the water solubility is improved, among these substituents.
  • a substituent having such a nature that the water solubility is improved, among these substituents.
  • Particularly favorable examples of such a substituent include carboxyl, sulfonic, polyethylene glycol, carboxylate and sulfonate groups though not limited thereto.
  • R 60 ′ is favorably an alkyl group, and it is favorable that the alkyl group additionally has a substituent such as a carboxyl, sulfonic, polyethylene glycol, carboxylate or sulfonate group, since the water solubility of the resulting compound is increased, and the fluorescence intensity thereof is also increased.
  • a substituent such as a carboxyl, sulfonic, polyethylene glycol, carboxylate or sulfonate group
  • R 68 and R 69 are, independently of each other, a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group or an aryl group.
  • R 70 is an oxygen atom or a sulfur atom.
  • alkyl group in R 68 and R 69 No particular limitation is imposed on the alkyl group in R 68 and R 69 .
  • examples thereof include linear, branched or cyclic alkyl groups having 1 to 20 carbon atoms, such as methyl, ethyl, propyl, butyl, pentyl, hexyl, octyl, nonyl, decyl, undecyl, dodecyl, tridecyl, tetradecyl, pentadecyl, hexadecyl, heptadecyl, octadecyl, nonadecyl, cyclopropyl, cyclobutyl and cyclopentyl groups.
  • aryl group in R 68 and R 69 No particular limitation is imposed on the aryl group in R 68 and R 69 .
  • examples thereof include 6- to 14-membered monocyclic or polycyclic aryl groups such as phenyl, naphthyl, phenanthryl and anthracenyl groups.
  • R 68 and R 69 may additionally have substituent(s), and no particular limitation is imposed on the substituent(s) so far as the storage stability of the staining compound is not markedly impaired. Examples thereof include substituents described as “favorable examples of additional substituents” above.
  • the groups favorably have a substituent having such a nature that the water solubility is improved, among these substituents.
  • a substituent having such a nature that the water solubility is improved include carboxyl, sulfonic, polyethylene glycol, carboxylate and sulfonate groups though not limited thereto.
  • R 71 is an alkyl group.
  • alkyl group in R 71 No particular limitation is imposed on the alkyl group in R 71 .
  • examples thereof include linear, branched or cyclic alkyl groups having 1 to 20 carbon atoms, such as methyl, ethyl, propyl, butyl, pentyl, hexyl, octyl, nonyl, decyl, undecyl, dodecyl, tridecyl, tetradecyl, pentadecyl, hexadecyl, heptadecyl, octadecyl, nonadecyl, cyclopropyl, cyclobutyl and cyclopentyl groups.
  • a compound of the general formulae (I) to (XVIV), (VIII′), and (XVII′) has at least one of carboxyl, sulfonic and polyethylene glycol groups, since the water solubility of the compound is improved.
  • a salt of the carboxyl or sulfonic group is also usable in the present invention. No particular limitation is imposed on the salt of the carboxyl or sulfonic group.
  • alkali metal salts such as sodium and potassium salts
  • alkaline earth salts such as magnesium and calcium salts
  • amine salts such as ammonium, pyridinium, piperidinium and triethylammonium salts
  • amino acid salts such as tryptophan, lysine, leucine, phenylalanine, valine and arginine salts.
  • alkali metal salts such as sodium and potassium salts
  • alkaline earth salts such as magnesium and calcium salts
  • amine salts such as ammonium, pyridinium, piperidinium and triethylammonium salts
  • amino acid salts such as tryptophan, lysine, leucine, phenylalanine, valine and arginine salts.
  • alkali metal salts such as sodium and potassium salts
  • alkaline earth salts such as magnesium and calcium salts
  • amine salts such as ammonium, pyridinium, piperidinium
  • the staining compound s according to the present invention which are represented by any one of the general formulae (I) to (XVIV), (VIII′), and (XVII′), may be commercially available and can be obtained with ease.
  • the compounds can also be easily synthesized according to publicly known respective processes.
  • a staining compound in which A in the general formula (I) is represented by the general formula (III) can be easily synthesized by referring to, for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2008-94897.
  • a staining compound in which A in the general formula (I) is represented by the general formula (V) or (VII) can be synthesized according to the process described in, for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open 2001-315437.
  • a staining compound in which B in the general formula (II) is represented by the general formula (XVI) can be easily synthesized by referring to, for example, Chem. Comm., Vol. 24, pp. 3036-3037 (2003).
  • R 1 , R 2 , and R 6 to R 11 in the above scheme have the same meanings as described above.
  • a compound (A) and an amine derivative are heated and condensed in the presence of a condensing agent (or in the absence of the condensing agent) in an organic solvent (or in the absence of a solvent) to obtain a compound (B).
  • the compound (B) is then heated and condensed again with the above-described amine derivative.
  • a staining compound (III) according to the present invention is obtained.
  • examples thereof include ethylene glycol, N-methylpyrrolidone, N,N-dimethyl-acetamide, N,N-dimethylformamide, dimethyl sulfoxide, sulfolane, chlorobenzene, dichlorobenzene, trichlorobenzene and nitrobenzene.
  • the reaction in Condensation (1) step is conducted in a temperature range of from 0 to 200° C., favorably from 10 to 150° C., more favorably from 20 to 100° C.
  • the reaction in Condensation (2) step is conducted in a temperature range of from 50 to 250° C., favorably from 100 to 230° C., more favorably from 150 to 220° C.
  • the same amine derivatives may be used, so that the staining compound of the general formula (III) can be obtained through a one-stage condensation step.
  • the reaction temperature follows the condition of Condensation (2) step.
  • the condensing agent used in the condensation step may be chosen for use from, for example, magnesium oxide, zinc chloride and aluminum chloride.
  • the resultant staining compound (III) may be subjected to an ordinary isolation/purification process for organic compounds.
  • a reaction mixture is acidified with hydrochloric acid and subjected to aciding-out, thereby separating solids by filtration, and then subjected to neutralization with sodium hydroxide or the like and concentration, thereby obtaining a crude product.
  • the crude product is further purified by recrystallization with acetone or methanol, column purification using silica gel, or the like. These methods may be used singly or in combination of two or more methods thereof to conduct purification, thereby obtaining the compound with higher purity.
  • the labeling composition for the intraocular tissue according to the present invention may also be used as a probe labeled with a radioactive nuclide.
  • radioactive nuclide used in labeling, and it may be suitably selected according to the mode of use.
  • the labeling composition for the intraocular tissue labeled with the radioactive nuclide may be used in imaging by, for example, autoradiography, positron emission tomography (PET) using a positron emission nuclide, or single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) using various kinds of gamma-ray emission nuclides. Detection may also be made by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) making good use of an MR signal derived from a fluorine atomic nucleus, or 13 C. In addition, imaging may also be conducted by a Compton camera (GREI) capable of coincidentally imaging a plurality of molecules as a next-generation molecular imaging apparatus. It may also be possible to quantify a probe for a retinal tissue using, for example, a liquid scintillation counter, X-ray film or imaging plate.
  • MRI magnetic resonance imaging
  • GREI Compton camera
  • a labeling composition for the intraocular tissue labeled with a radioactive isotope such as 14 C permits measuring a concentration in blood (or urine or feces) by an accelerator mass spectrometry (AMS) or the like to obtain pharmacokinetic information (area under the blood concentration-time curve (AUC), blood concentration half-life period (T 1/2 ), maximum drug concentration (C max ), maximum drug concentration time (T max ), distribution volume, first-pass effect, biological utilization factor, excretion rates in feces and urine, etc.) of the parent compound and metabolite of the substance labeled.
  • AMS accelerator mass spectrometry
  • radioactive nuclide No particular limitation is imposed on the radioactive nuclide, and it may be suitably selected according to the mode of use.
  • a 11 C, 14 C, 13 N, 15 O, 18 F, 19 F, 62 Cu, 68 Ga or 78 Br may be used.
  • 11 C, 13 N, 15 O or 18 F positron emission nuclide of, for example, is favorable, with 11 C or 18 F being particularly favorable.
  • a ⁇ -ray emission nuclide of, for example, 99m Tc, 111 In, 67 Ga, 201 Tl, 123 I or 133 Xe may be used. 99m Tc or 123 I is favorable.
  • a radioactive nuclide longer in half-life period such as, for example, 125 I may be used.
  • 131 I, 85 Sr or 65 Zn may be used.
  • the radioactive nuclide may be either contained in or bonded to the compound represented by any one of the general formulae (I) to (XVIV), (VIII′), and (XVII′).
  • the compound represented by any one of the general formulae (I) to (XVIV), (VIII′), and (XVII′) is labeled with the radioactive nuclide
  • the compound favorably has a radioactivity of about 1 to 100 ⁇ Ci per mM.
  • the dose of the labeling composition for the intraocular tissue used may be suitably selected according to the kind of the compound and the kind of the radioactive nuclide used in labeling.
  • concentration of the compound contained in the labeling composition for the intraocular tissue according to the present invention so far as the intraocular tissue can be detected.
  • concentration may be suitably adjusted according to the target site and the compound used.
  • the compound is used at a concentration of generally 0.001 ng/mL or more and 100 ⁇ g/mL or less, favorably 0.001 ng/mL or more and 10 ⁇ g/mL or less, more favorably 0.001 ng/mL or more and 5 ⁇ la/mL or less.
  • the labeling composition for the intraocular tissue according to the present invention is used by dissolving at least one of the staining compound s represented by any one of the general formulae (I) to (XVIV), (VIII′), and (XVII′) in a proper solvent.
  • a proper solvent No particular limitation is imposed on the solvent so far as it does not affect a living body.
  • an aqueous liquid high in affinity for the living body is favorable.
  • Examples thereof include water; physiological saline; buffer solutions such as phosphate buffer solution (PBS) and Tris; alcoholic solvents such as methanol, ethanol, isopropanol, butanol, ethylene glycol and glycerol; organic solvents such as N,N-dimethyl sulfoxide (hereinafter abbreviated as DMSO) and N,N-dimethylformamide (hereinafter abbreviated as DMF); cell culture media such as D-MEM and HBSS; and infusions such as lactate Ringer solution. It is particularly favorable to contain at least 50% of water. These solvents may also be used in combination of two or more thereof.
  • buffer solutions such as phosphate buffer solution (PBS) and Tris
  • alcoholic solvents such as methanol, ethanol, isopropanol, butanol, ethylene glycol and glycerol
  • organic solvents such as N,N-dimethyl sulfoxide (hereinafter abbreviated as DM
  • the composition may be prepared by diluting a thick solution of the compound dissolved in such a solvent as described above.
  • the compound may be dissolved in a proper solvent and then diluted with purified water to use it.
  • the proper solvent is particularly favorably methanol, ethanol or DMSO.
  • additives may be added to the labeling composition for the intraocular tissue according to the present invention either singly or in combination of two or more thereof.
  • additives used in the present invention so far as they do not affect the labeling composition for the intraocular tissue.
  • examples thereof include humectants, surface tension adjustors, thickeners, salts such as sodium chloride, various kinds of pH adjustors, pH buffers, preservatives, antibacterial agents, sweetening agents, and perfume bases.
  • the pH adjustors favorably adjust the pH to be 5 to 9, and no particular limitation is imposed on the pH adjustors.
  • examples thereof include hydrochloric acid, acetic acid, phosphoric acid, citric acid, malic acid, sodium hydroxide and sodium hydrogencarbonate.
  • the compound contained in the labeling composition for the intraocular tissue in the present invention is favorably a compound with a maximum luminance ratio (La/Lb) of 3 or more when the following testing method is performed. Details of the testing method for selecting the compound used in the present invention are described below.
  • An aqueous solution of a test compound is prepared to give a concentration of 1 ⁇ g/mL, and three Zebrafish 7-day-old embryos are exposed to the aqueous solution for one hour. Thereafter, the embryos are washed twice with purified water and immobilized with a 4% paraformaldehyde solution to provide immobilized sections a1 to a3 of one eyeball of the respective Zebrafishes. On the other hand, three untreated Zebrafish 7-day-old embryos are immobilized with a 4% paraformaldehyde solution to provide immobilized sections b1 to b3 of one eyeballs of the respective Zebrafishes. In this testing method, an immobilized section containing the entire layer structures of at least vitreous body and retina is used.
  • the immobilized sections a1 to a3 are used to adjust the magnification of an observation apparatus to a magnification capable of observing a retinal section of each eyeball, thereby setting the excitation wavelength and the fluorescence wavelength to those at which the fluorescence intensity in the retinal tissue becomes maximum.
  • the magnification capable of observing the retinal section is not required to be strictly adjusted so far as the layer structures of the vitreous body and retina can be identified. However, the magnification is favorably such that the whole tissue section of the eye is included.
  • the structure of the retinal tissue can be visualized by setting the magnification to from 10 times to 400 times, favorably from 40 times to 200 times.
  • the average value of maximum luminance values in arbitrarily-sized retinal regions between the retinal pigment epithelium and vitreous body of the immobilized sections b1 to b3 is regarded as Lb to set the intensity of excitation light and photographic sensitivity such that the value Lb falls within a range of from 2 to 6.
  • the average value of maximum luminance values in arbitrarily-sized retinal regions between the retinal pigment epithelium and vitreous body of the immobilized sections a1 to a3 is regarded as La to calculate the value La/Lb.
  • the exposure to the solution of the test compound can be conducted by putting a Zebrafish 7-day-old embryo in an arbitrary well in, for example, a 24-well plate together with breeding water, and taking the breeding water out of the well to be replaced by the solution of the test compound, thereby bringing the solution into contact with the embryo.
  • a method of adding a proper amount of a thick solution of the test compound to a Zebrafish embryo put in a well together with distilled water in such a manner that the final concentration is 1 ⁇ g/mL may also be used.
  • the compound migrating to the intraocular tissue without damaging the ocular tissue or the nerve tissue linking to the ocular tissue can label the intraocular tissue by exposing the Zebrafish 7-day-old embryo to the solution of the test compound for 1 hour.
  • observation can be made by observing an immobilized section of an ocular tissue of Zebrafish, which has been exposed to the solution of the test compound.
  • the section can be prepared by embedding Zebrafish in a low-temperature fused agarose gel and slicing it by a commercially available microtome.
  • microtome No particular limitation is imposed on the commercially available microtome so far as a section can be prepared.
  • examples thereof include Vibratome and Linear Slicer.
  • Linear Slicer is favorably used because a section is prepared more satisfactorily.
  • the immobilized section prepared by such a microtome is placed on a slide glass to observe it.
  • cryostat microtome it may also be possible to embed Zebrafish in a compound for a frozen tissue section, rapidly freeze it with liquid nitrogen, and then prepare a section by a cryostat microtome. No particular limitation is imposed on the cryostat microtome. However, a commercially available Cryostat may be favorably used. The frozen section prepared in such a manner is placed on a slide glass and then dried to observe it.
  • a thickness of a section upon preparation of the section so far as the thickness is fixed upon testing.
  • a thickness of 5 ⁇ m or more is favorable because its morphology is easily kept upon its transfer to a slide glass.
  • the control to the excitation wavelength and fluorescence wavelength at which the fluorescence intensity in the retinal tissue becomes maximum can be made by changing the set of fluorescent light filters in such a manner that when a section sample exposed to an aqueous solution containing a test compound is observed, the sample is irradiated with excitation light of an arbitrary wavelength, and fluorescence of a wavelength longer by at least 10 nm or more, favorably 20 nm or more than the excitation wavelength is detected, the excitation light is scarcely visible and the fluorescence intensity becomes highest.
  • the excitation wavelength and fluorescence wavelength of the observation apparatus For the measurement of the maximum luminance value in the region including the retinal tissue, it is necessary to set the excitation wavelength and fluorescence wavelength of the observation apparatus according to the test compound used.
  • observation apparatus No particular limitation is imposed on the observation apparatus used so far as it permits fluorescence observation.
  • examples thereof include a stereoscopic fluorescence microscope, a fluorescence microscope and a confocal laser-scanning fluorescence microscope.
  • the maximum luminance value is measured by means of a software or the like. It is favorable to measure the value by converting the image to a gray scale. No particular limitation is imposed on the software used in the measurement of the maximum luminance value so far as the maximum luminance value in the arbitrary region is determined. However, examples thereof may include NIH Image, Scion Image and Image J.
  • Such software is used to control the intensity of excitation light and photographic sensitivity in such a manner that the maximum luminance values of the immobilized sections b1 to b3 fall within a range of from 2 to 6, thereby obtaining the average value Lb of the maximum luminance values of the immobilized sections b1 to b3.
  • An image containing the retinal region of each of the immobilized sections a1 to a3 is then obtained under the conditions set above, whereby the average value La of the maximum luminance values of the immobilized sections a1 to a3 can be obtained in the same manner as described above.
  • the compound contained in the labeling composition for intraocular tissue according to the present invention is favorably such that the ratio (La/Lb) of La to Lb obtained in the above-described testing method is 3 or more.
  • the compound that the ratio La/Lb is 3 or more can clearly label the intraocular tissue without damaging the ocular tissue or the nerve tissue linking to the ocular tissue.
  • the ratio La/Lb is favorably 5 or more, more favorably 10 or more, because the intraocular tissue is stained in a clearly distinguishable state even when the concentration of the compound is low.
  • the labeling method for the intraocular tissue according to the present invention can be conducted by using the labeling composition for the intraocular tissue containing at least one of the staining compound s represented by any one of the general formulae (I) to (XVIV), (VIII′), and (XVII′).
  • the method for labeling the intraocular tissue of a living individual is to label with the labeling composition without causing a surgical damage such as incision of an ocular tissue or needling into the ocular tissue or a nerve tissue linking to the ocular tissue.
  • examples thereof include a method of exposing a part or the whole of a living individual to the labeling composition for the intraocular tissue, a method by oral contact, a method by pneumonic contact, a method by nasal contact, a method by transgastrointestinal contact, a method by transmucosal contact, a method by transhumoral contact, a method by hypoglossal contact, a method by intravascular contact such as intravenous or intra-arterial contact, a method by intra-abdominal contact, an intra-abdominal, subcutaneous, intracutaneous, intravesical or endotracheal (intrabronchial) injection method, and a method by contact with the interior of a living body by a device such as spraying or coating.
  • the labeling composition for the intraocular tissue according to the present invention may also be injected directly into an eye to label the intraocular tissue.
  • No particular limitation is imposed on the method of injecting directly into the eye.
  • the method is performed by making a hole by sclerotomy, filling a posterior portion of a vitreous body with air and then injecting several drops, generally 1 mL or less, of the labeling composition for the intraocular tissue according to the present invention into the eye.
  • the observing method of the present invention uses the labeling composition for the intraocular tissue according to the present invention.
  • the measuring and detecting methods thereof are performed by methods publicly known by a person with ordinary skill in the art.
  • the method is a method for capturing the condition and change of a living sample as images. Examples thereof include visible light observation, near-infrared light observation and infrared light observation performed by irradiating an ocular tissue with visible light, near-infrared light and infrared light, respectively, and observing the ocular tissue by a camera or CCD; laser microscope observation; fluorescence observation, fluorescence microscope observation, fluorescence endoscope observation, confocal microscope observation, multiple photon-excited fluorescence microscope observation, and narrow-band light observation performed by irradiating a living sample with excitation light from an excitation light source like a fluorescence endoscope to observe fluorescence of the living sample causing emission; optical coherence tomographic (OCT) observation; and observation by a soft X-ray microscope.
  • OCT optical coherence tomographic
  • the wavelength is generally from 200 to 1,010 nm, favorably from 400 to 900 nm, more favorably from 480 to 800 nm. In the case of using light in a near-infrared region, a wavelength of generally from 600 to 1,000 nm, favorably from 680 to 900 nm, is used.
  • the light source for fluorescence excitation used in the present invention No particular limitation is imposed on the light source for fluorescence excitation used in the present invention.
  • various kinds of laser beam sources may be used. Examples thereof include dye lasers, semiconductor lasers, ion lasers, fiber lasers, halogen lamps, xenon lamps and tungsten lamps.
  • Various kinds of optical filters may be used to obtain a favorable wavelength for excitation or to detect fluorescence alone.
  • an intraocular tissue When an intraocular tissue is imaged in a state of causing emission in the interior of an ocular tissue by irradiating a living individual with excitation light in the above-described manner, an emitting site can be easily detected.
  • the intraocular tissue can be observed in more detail by combining a bright field image obtained by irradiation of visible light with a fluorescent image obtained by irradiation of excitation light by an image processing unit.
  • the labeling composition for the intraocular tissue according to the present invention, general characteristics with respect to staining of an intraocular tissue can be screened in a living state, i.e., in vivo, by using a living individual, for example, Zebrafish that is a small bony fish.
  • a living individual for example, Zebrafish that is a small bony fish.
  • the safety of the labeling composition for the intraocular tissue may also be screened at the same time.
  • Zebrafish has been acknowledged as the third model animal following mouse and rat in the United States and Britain in recent years, and it has been found that compared with human the whole genome sequence thereof has 80% homology, the number of genes is also almost the same, and the geneses and structures of the main organs and tissues are also well similar.
  • the Zebrafish is characterized in that the processes of differentiating from a fertilized ovum to form respective parts (viscera and organs such as heart, liver, kidney and alimentary canal) can be observed through a transparent body, so that it is particularly favorable to use Zebrafish in screening as a model animal.
  • examples thereof include a method of administering the labeling composition for the intraocular tissue into breeding water in the case where the labeling composition for the intraocular tissue is water-soluble, and include, in the case where the labeling composition for the intraocular tissue is water-insoluble, a method of dispersing the labeling composition for the intraocular tissue in breeding water by itself, a method of administering the composition together with a trace quantity of a surfactant or DMSO, a method of mixing the composition with a feed for Zebrafish to orally administering it, and a method of parenterally administering the composition by injection or the like.
  • the method of administering the labeling composition for the intraocular tissue into breeding water is favorable because of its easiness.
  • the staining compound represented by any one of the general formulae (I) to (XVIV), (VIII′), and (XVII′) is desirably water-soluble, and a carboxyl group or sulfonic is desirably contained in the compound.
  • One or more labeling compositions for the intraocular tissue according to the present invention can be utilized as active agents to conduct in vivo screening for influence on a living body, such as effects, side effects or safety of a chemical substance in an intraocular tissue, using a living individual, for example, Zebrafish.
  • the labeling compositions for the intraocular tissue can be selected as needed according to target sites, objects, inspection methods and/or the like.
  • applied developments such as high-precision diagnoses of diseases and development of curing methods are expected from the staining ability of the labeling composition for the intraocular tissue, and so this composition may be used as a diagnostic composition.
  • the chemical substance means a generic name of a compound having chemical action and is not particularly limited. However, examples thereof include pharmaceuticals, organic compounds, curing medicines, investigational drugs, agricultural chemicals, cosmetics, environmental pollutants and endocrine disruptors.
  • Zebrafish is not limited to wild type Zebrafish, and Zebrafishes of various disease type models may be used according to the object of screening.
  • a disease type model the effects of a proposed new medicine compound can be found by observation to apply them to conduct screening of a disease curing or preventing medicine.
  • the screening method according to the present invention can use small bony fishes.
  • small bony fishes used in the screening method according to the present invention include Zebrafish, globefish, goldfish, killifish and giant rerio.
  • the small bony fishes are favorably used because they are excellent in speed and cost compared with mouse and rat.
  • Zebrafish is favorable because decoding of genome has been almost completed, its breeding and propagation are easy, circulation cost is also cheap, and the basic structures of main organs and tissues are formed in 48 to 72 hours after fertilization.
  • the labeling composition for the intraocular tissue according to the present invention can be used in measures for specifically and selectively labeling, for example, a diseased cellular tissue at ophthalmic surgery or a site of a test substance suspected to be a tumor, thereby ascertaining a difference from normal cells, or in observation of a change of a tissue by a disease.
  • the labeling composition for the intraocular tissue according to the present invention can specifically label an intraocular tissue of a living individual without need of an invasive operation such as exposure of an ocular tissue or injection of a staining agent into the ocular tissue or a nerve tissue linking to the ocular tissue. Accordingly, the composition can be applied to a diagnostic agent making good use of these identification abilities.
  • the composition can be used as, for example, a diagnostic agent for inspecting the functions of the eyes and a diagnostic agent of ophthalmic diseases.
  • the labeling composition for the intraocular tissue according to the present invention may also be applied to human.
  • the extrapolability to human is confirmed by overall approximation in recognition of analogy and points of difference of intraocular tissues between human and a laboratory animal. Examples are given below though not limited thereto.
  • Intraocular tissues of human and another living sample than human are labeled to confirm analogy therebetween.
  • Examples of other living samples than human include mammals such as mouse, hamster, rat, guinea pig, rabbit, dog, pig, cat and monkey; and bony fishes such as Zebrafish.
  • An immobilized tissue section of said another living sample than human is used to confirm staining characteristics of intraocular tissues.
  • An immobilized tissue section of human is used to confirm staining characteristics of intraocular tissues.
  • the labeling composition for the intraocular tissue according to the present invention may also be applied to human.
  • the extrapolability to human it can be confirmed by radiolabeling the labeling composition for the intraocular tissue according to the present invention, administering a trace quantity of the labeled composition into a body of human and confirming localization of the compound in an intraocular tissue. This method is called a microdosing test.
  • a target biomolecule or labeling mechanism of the labeling composition for the intraocular tissue according to the present invention is identified in an intraocular tissue of another living sample than human.
  • a human biomolecule or labeling mechanism homologous to said target biomolecule or labeling mechanism is identified.
  • Said human biomolecule or staining mechanism is introduced into another laboratory animal than human by a genetic modification.
  • Zebrafish may be particularly favorably used. Eyes are very well preserved anatomically, histologically and biochemically among many vertebrate animals, and the same applies to the genesis.
  • the retina of Zebrafish is made up of 7 main cell types like many presently existing vertebrate animals (Progress in Retinal and Eye Research, 27, pp. 89-110 (2008)), and comparison of retinal tissue section images between human and Zebrafish shows very high commonality though different in scale (Current Opinion in Pharmacology, 4, 504-512 (2004)).
  • the use of Zebrafish has high advantage of low breeding cost and small amount of the compound used compared with mouse.
  • Distilled water was added to a 1 mg/mL DMSO solution of Staining compound 1 to obtain Staining Liquid 1 containing Staining compound 1 at a concentration of 1 ⁇ g/mL.
  • Staining Liquid 1 containing Staining compound 1 at a concentration of 1 ⁇ g/mL.
  • a 24-well multiplate product of IWAKI
  • a process of removing Staining Liquid 1 in the well and replacing it by 1 mL of distilled water was then performed 3 times.
  • Sections were prepared by the same process as in Example 1 except that Staining compound 1 in Example 1 was changed to staining compound s described in Table 1, and observed.
  • Sections were prepared by the same process as in Example 1 except that Staining compound 1 in Example 1 was not used or changed to indocyanine green (ICG) or fluorescein (FLU) as described in Table 1, and observed.
  • ICG indocyanine green
  • FLU fluorescein
  • Examples 1 to 106, and Comparative Examples 1 to 3 staining ability (+++: intraocular tissue including photoreceptor cell layer being strongly stained; ++: photoreceptor cell layer being stained; ⁇ : not stained), and stained sites (1: layer structure including photoreceptor cell layer in retinal tissue being visualized by 1 to 5 layers thereof; 2: retinal tissue being wholly visualized; 3: L: vitreous body being stained) were evaluated.
  • the excitation wavelengths and fluorescence wavelengths of the staining compound s in Examples 1 to 106 were determined by subjecting an aqueous solution obtained by diluting a 10 mg/mL DMSO solution to 1/500 with purified water to measurement using a fluorescence spectrometer FL4500 (manufactured by Hitachi High-Technologies Corporation).
  • a fluorescence spectrometer FL4500 manufactured by Hitachi High-Technologies Corporation.
  • values in a chloroform solution are shown.
  • the labeling compositions for the intraocular tissue according to the present invention are excellent in fluorescence sensitivity and able to stain living intraocular tissues, so that the staining ability thereof is excellent.
  • the stained sites varied according to the staining compound s used. Some of the compositions strongly stained the photoreceptor cell layer, while some of them exhibited staining ability to the whole retinal tissue. In addition, screening can be cheaply performed by using Zebrafish as a model animal.
  • Distilled water was added to a 1 mg/mL DMSO solution of Staining compound 5 so as to give a concentration of 1 ⁇ g/mL to obtain Staining Liquid 2.
  • DMSO solution of Staining compound 5 so as to give a concentration of 1 ⁇ g/mL to obtain Staining Liquid 2.
  • a process of removing Staining Liquid 2 in the well and replacing it by 1 mL of distilled water was then performed 3 times.
  • the fry was then put in a 0.7% agarose solution and placed on a slide glass to observe the fundus of the fry through a confocal microscope.
  • staining ability (+++: both photoreceptor cell layer and further inner layer structure of retina comprised of plural layers being stained; ++: only photoreceptor cell layer of retina comprised of plural layers being mainly stained; ⁇ : not observed) was evaluated.
  • Examples 107 to 119 fluorescence was observed at the fundus of Zebrafish. Specifically, as illustrated in, for example, FIG. 4 , it is understood that the labeling compositions for the intraocular tissue according to the present invention noninvasively migrate to the intraocular tissue to clearly image the intraocular tissue.
  • the slide glass was treated with a blocking solution (Blocking One, product of Nakarai Co.) for 30 minutes at room temperature, and an anti-Zpr-1 antibody (which stains red and green cone cells) diluted with PBS was mounted as a primary antibody on the slide glass and treated for 12 hours at 4° C.
  • the slide glass was then washed 3 times with PBST for 10 minutes, and a secondary antibody (Alexa 488-anti-mouse IgG antibody) and 1 ⁇ g/mL of Compound 5 were diluted with PBS and mounted on the slide glass for 1 hour at room temperature.
  • the slide glass was washed 3 times with PBST for 10 minutes, Fluoromount G (product of Southern Biotechnology Co.) was mounted thereon, and a cover glass was placed thereon.
  • Fluoromount G product of Southern Biotechnology Co.
  • a stained slide of a tissue section of a Zebrafish eye ball was prepared according to the same process as in Example 120 except that the primary antibody used in Example 120 was changed to an anti-Zpr-3 antibody (which stains rod cells), and observed through a confocal microscope.
  • a stained slide of a tissue section of a human normal retina was prepared according to the same process as in Example 120 except that the tissue section slide of the Zebrafish eyeball was changed to a tissue section slide (product of US Biomax Co.) of the human normal retina, and the primary antibody and secondary antibody were changed to anti-mGluR5 antibody (which stains cone cells) and Alexa 488-anti-rabbit IgG antibody, respectively, and observed through a confocal microscope.
  • Example 120 the stained images with Compound 5 and anti-Zpr-1 antibody in the photoreceptor cell layer did not overlap ( FIG. 5 ), but in Example 121, the stained images with Compound 5 and anti-Zpr-3 antibody in the photoreceptor cell layer partially overlapped. This fact indicates that Compound 5 has staining ability to the photoreceptor cell layer but does not stain the red and green cone cells in the photoreceptor cell layer, or non-stained portions exist in cell bodies existing in the photoreceptor cell layer. On the other hand, the result of Example 121 reveals that Compound 5 has stained the rod cells and at least one kind of cell type of blue or ultraviolet cone cells. From this fact, it was confirmed that Compound 5 selectively stains a part of the cell types in the photoreceptor cell layer or of the cell bodies existing in the photoreceptor cell layer.
  • Example 122 it was confirmed that the photoreceptor cell layer common to the retina of Zebrafish in the frozen section of the human normal retina is stained. It was also confirmed that the stained site by the anti-mGluR5 antibody is different, and so a part of the cell types in the photoreceptor cell layer or of the cell bodies existing in the photoreceptor cell layer is selectively stained even in human. From the above results, it was confirmed that the retinas of human and Zebrafish are approximate in staining characteristics, and the labeling composition for the intraocular tissue according to the present invention is high in extrapolability to human.
  • Staining compound 81 was added to an equimolar amount of a NaOH solution so as to give a concentration of 10 mg/mL, and the resultant mixture was centrifuged for 5 minutes at 14 krpm to obtain a supernatant.
  • a supernatant To an abdominal cavity of a 3-month-old B10 mouse, was administered 0.2 mL of this supernatant at one time. After 1 hour, the thus-treated animal was sacrificed under anesthesia by diethyl ether, and an eyeball thereof was taken out. The eyeball taken was embedded in an OCT compound and frozen in isopentane chilled with liquid nitrogen.
  • This eyeball was sliced into a thickness of about 5 ⁇ m in a cryostat chilled to ⁇ 20° C., and this slice was placed on a slide glass and dried to prepare a section of an ocular tissue.
  • the thus-prepared ocular tissue section was observed through a confocal microscope (Pascal Exciter, manufactured by Zeiss Co.). As a result, it was confirmed that Compound 81 has staining ability to the retina by administration to the abdominal cavity of the mouse.
  • the staining compound s used in Examples 15 to 20, 24, 53 to 58, 65, 67, 82, and 83 stain hair cells in vivo in addition to the effect of staining the intraocular tissues.
  • the compound represented by Compound Nos. 15, 17, 19 to 22, 27, 60 to 65, 72, 74, 90, and 94 have an effect of coincidentally staining both intraocular tissues and hair cells.
  • the present invention provide labeling compositions for intraocular tissues, which can stain intraocular tissues of living samples and can image cell morphologies of the intraocular tissues with high sensitivity, so that the compositions become materials essential to researches in the ophthalmic field and ophthalmologic imaging techniques.
  • evaluation with time becomes feasible in drug discovery relating to ophthalmic diseases, high-throughput and high-precision screening can be conducted at low cost, and development of new diagnosing methods and curing methods for diseases as well as ophthalmologic researches are significantly advanced.
  • the present invention becomes an extremely effective platform technology from industrial and practical points of view.

Abstract

The invention provides a labeling composition for an intraocular tissue of a living individual, which specifically labels the intraocular tissue without need of an invasive operation such as exposure of an ocular tissue or injection of a staining agent into the ocular tissue or a nerve tissue linking to the ocular tissue, a method of noninvasively labeling an intraocular tissue of a living individual, and a screening method using the labeling composition for the intraocular tissues. The composition contains a compound capable of labeling at least a photoreceptor cell layer of a retina, wherein the compound is a staining compound having a particular structure as a partial structure thereof.

Description

    TECHNICAL FIELD
  • The present invention relates a labeling composition for an intraocular tissue, which is used for noninvasively labeling an intraocular tissue of a living sample, a labeling method of the intraocular tissue, and a screening method.
    • BACKGROUND ART
  • In recent years, there has been a tendency to increase the number of patients suffering ophthalmic diseases with the progress of population aging. The progress of amblyopia by an ophthalmic disease leads to blindness in the worst case, and the patient is markedly impaired in the quality of life. Therefore, it is required to detect the disease in its early stage and take a measure to cure the disease or retard the progress thereof. Typical diseases forming a cause of halfway blindness include diabetic retinopathy, macular degeneration diseases and glaucoma, and the fundus retina is concerned with many of them. For diagnoses of these diseases, diagnoses by evaluation of visual function by inspection of visual field, and morphological evaluation of the fundus retina using a fundus camera, an optical coherence tomograph (OCT) and a scanning laser ophthalmoscope are conducted.
  • In a retinopathic disease, reduction of visual functions is caused by disorder of neurocytes. In recent years, it has become possible to visualize the condition of a layer structure of a reticular tissue by an OCT technique, and many new findings relating to a living body tissue of a retinal lesion have been obtained. However, a current OCT image is low in resolution, and so it has been unable to visualize the morphology of cells forming the retina.
  • As a visualization technique of an ocular tissue, a method of imaging and staining the ocular tissue using a staining compound has heretofore been known. For example, there is a method of visualizing a choroidal vessel and a retinal vessel using a fluorescent pigment such as indocyanine green or fluorescein (Ophthalmologic Photograph, 23, pp. 3-10 (2007)). As a staining method of the cornea, a method of using rose Bengal or fluorescein is also known (EYE CONTACT LENS, 34, pages 61 to 64 (2008)).
  • On the other hand, as a visualization technique of intraocular tissues such as a vitreous body, retina and optic nerve, a method of administering a stain composition to a vitreous cavity mainly at surgical operation is disclosed. For example, there is a composition for staining a retinal membrane in a vitreous retina surgery (Japanese Patent No. 3469198). It is also disclosed that a transmission substance injected into the vitreous body remains in the retina (Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2007-262078). Besides, it is reported that in order to image retinal ganglion cells of a rat, a retrograde axonal transport tracer is injected into a superior colliculus of the midbrain linking to a retinal ganglion to observe it with a laser ophthalmoscope (Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci, 47(10), p. 4198 (2006)). As described above, it has been necessary to directly administer the stain composition to the inside of an eye for visualizing the intraocular tissue.
  • Incidentally, a drug to act on the retina or retinal nerve tissue is administered by intravenous injection or orally. However, the quantity of the drug transferred to the retina is extremely small. On the other hand, drug administration to the vitreous cavity enables a large quantity of the drug transferred to the retinal tissue compared with the intravenous injection or oral administration. However, an advanced technique is required, and a burden on a patient is also great, and so it is extremely difficult to use it except for the case of surgery or curing, and such administration has been unable to be used for the morphological or functional evaluation of the fundus retina.
    • DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION
  • It is an object of the present invention to provide a labeling composition for an intraocular tissue, which can simply label an intraocular tissue of a living individual. In particular, the present invention provides a labeling composition, which can label the intraocular tissue in vivo. Another object of the present invention is to provide a method of noninvasively labeling an intraocular tissue of a living individual without need of an invasive operation such as exposure of an ocular tissue or needling into the ocular tissue or a nerve tissue linking to the ocular tissue. A further object of the present invention is to provide a screening method using the labeling composition for the intraocular tissue.
  • The present inventors have carried out an extensive investigation for achieving the above objects. As a result, a group of compounds, which provide new use of labeling an intraocular tissue of a living individual, has been found. In other words, the group of compounds, which can label the intraocular tissue of the living individual, has been found to succeed in providing a labeling composition for an intraocular tissue.
  • The present inventors have also established a method for noninvasively labeling the intraocular tissue. The present inventors have further developed an imaging method of the intraocular tissue using the labeling composition for the intraocular tissue according to the present invention, a screening method using the labeling composition for the intraocular tissue, which can label the intraocular tissue, and a diagnostic drug for the intraocular tissue, thus leading to completion of the present invention.
  • As shown in the following Comparative Examples, compounds for staining an intraocular tissue, which have been conventionally known, cannot stain an intraocular tissue of a living individual according to a conventional method.
  • The present invention is as follows.
  • The present invention provides a labeling composition for an intraocular tissue of a living individual, which comprises a compound capable of labeling at least a photoreceptor cell layer of a retina, wherein the compound is a staining compound having a structure represented by the following general formula (I) or general formula (II) as a partial structure thereof,
  • Figure US20110236310A1-20110929-C00001
  • wherein in the general formula (I), R1 and R2 are, independently of each other, a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group or an aryl group, R1 and R2 may bond to each other to form a ring, and A is a structure represented by any one of the following general formulae (III) to (IX) and (VIII′)
  • Figure US20110236310A1-20110929-C00002
  • wherein in the general formula (III), R6 is an aryl group, R7, R8, R10 and R11 are, independently of one another, a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group, an aryl group or a halogen atom, and Rg is an ammonium salt group having a counter anion, in the general formula (IV), R12 and R13 are, independently of each other, a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group, an aryl group or a heterocyclic group, and R14 to R16 are, independently of one another, a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group, an aryl group, a heterocyclic group, a halogen atom or an amino group, in the general formula (V), R17 and R18 are, independently of each other, a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group or an alkoxy group, R19 and R20 are, independently of each other, a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group, an alkoxy group, a hydroxyl group or a cyano group, R21 is a heterocyclic group or —CH═C(R22)(R23), R22 and R23 are, independently of each other, a hydrogen atom, a cyano group, a heterocyclic group, a carboxyl group or a carboxylate group, and R1 and R17, R2 and R18, and R22 and R23 may, independently of one another, bond to each other to form a ring, in the general formula (VI), R24 is a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group, an aryl group or a heterocyclic group, in the general formula (VII), R25 is an oxygen atom, a sulfur atom or N(R27), R26 is a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group, an alkoxy group or a sulfonic group, and R27 is a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group or an aryl group, in the general formula (VIII), R28 is a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group or an aryl group, in the general formula (VIII′), R28′ is a halogen atom, an alkoxy group or an aryloxy group, and in the general formula (IX), R29 is a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group or an aryl group; and wherein A is also a structure represented by the following general formula (X)
  • Figure US20110236310A1-20110929-C00003
  • wherein in the general formula (X), R31 and R32 are individually a sulfonic group or a salt thereof, and R33 and R34 are individually a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group, an alkoxy group or a halogen atom, with the proviso that R1 and R2 in the general formula (I) bond to each other to form one substituent group ═N—R30, and R30 is an aryl group or a heterocyclic group,
    further wherein in the general formula (II), R3 and R4 are, independently of each other, a hydrogen atom, an alkenyl group, a cyano group, a carboxyl group, a carboxylate group, a sulfonic group, an acyl group or a heterocyclic group, R3 and R4 may bond to each other to form a ring, and R5 is a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group, an aryl group or a heterocyclic group, with the proviso that one of R3 and R4 is a hydrogen atom, and the other is a heterocyclic group represented by the following general formula (XI)
  • Figure US20110236310A1-20110929-C00004
  • wherein in the general formula (XI), R35 is an alkyl group or an aryl group, R36 to R39 are, independently of one another, a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group, an aryl group, an alkoxy group, a carboxyl group, a sulfonic group, a heterocyclic group, an amino group or a halogen atom, R36 and R37, R37 and R38, or R38 and R39 may bond to each other to form a ring, X− is an anionic group, and Q1 is a sulfur atom, oxygen atom, —C(R40)(R41)—, —CH═CH— or —N(R42)—, in which R40 to R42 are individually a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group or an aryl group, and R40 and R41 may bond to each other to form a ring, and wherein the ring formed by bonding R3 and R4 in the general formula (II) to each other is represented by any one of the following general formulae (XII), (XIII) and (XV)
  • Figure US20110236310A1-20110929-C00005
  • wherein in the general formula (XII), R43 is a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group, an aryl group or a heterocyclic group, and R44 is an alkyl group, an aryl group, a carboxyl group, a carboxylate group, a hydroxyl group or an amino group, in the general formula (XIII), Q2 is an oxygen atom, a sulfur atom or —N(R52)—, R45 is a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group, an aryl group or a heterocyclic group, R46 is a sulfur atom, an oxygen atom, ═NR53, a heterocyclic group or a dicyanomethylene group, and R52 and R53 are individually a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group, an aryl group or a heterocyclic group, and in the general formula (XV), R49 and R50 are, independently of each other, a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group or an aryl group, and R51 is an oxygen atom or a sulfur atom, and
    B is a structure represented by any one of the following general formulae (XVI) to (XVIV) and (XVII′)
  • Figure US20110236310A1-20110929-C00006
  • wherein in the general formula (XVI), R54 is a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group, an aralkyl group, an alkenyl group, an aryl group, a heterocyclic group or an acyl group, R55 to R58 are, independently of one another, a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group, an aryl group, a carboxyl group, a carboxylate group or an acyl group, R55 and R57 may bond to each other to form a ring, and R59 is a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group, an alkoxy group or a halogen atom, in the general formula (XVII), R60 is a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group or an aryl group, R61 to R64 are, independently of one another, a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group, an aryl group, an alkoxy group, a carboxyl group, a sulfonic group, a heterocyclic group, an amino group or a halogen atom, R61 and R62, R62 and R63, or R63 and R64 may bond to each other to form a ring, and Q3 is a sulfur atom, an oxygen atom, —C(R65)(R66)— or —CH═CH—, in which R65 and R66 bond to each other to form a ring, in the general formula (XVII′), R60′ is a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group or an aryl group, Q3′ is a sulfur atom or an oxygen atom, and dotted lines in the general formula (XVII′) represent the case where a benzene ring is present or absent, in the general formula (XVIII), R68 and R69 are, independently of each other, a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group or an aryl group, and R70 is an oxygen atom or a sulfur atom, and in the general formula (XVIV), R71 is an alkyl group,
    further wherein B and R5 may bond to each other to form a benzothiophen-3-one ring, and at that time, R3 and R4 bond to each other to form a benzothiophen-3-one ring.
  • The present invention also provides a labeling composition for labeling an intraocular tissue of a living individual, which comprises a compound capable of labeling at least a photoreceptor cell layer of the retina.
  • The present invention further provides a staining agent for an intraocular tissue, which comprises the above-described labeling composition for the intraocular tissue.
  • The present invention still further provides a diagnostic composition comprising, as an active agent, the above-described labeling composition or staining agent for the intraocular tissue.
  • The present invention yet still further provides a staining method of an ocular tissue, which comprises a step of bringing the above-described labeling composition or staining agent for the intraocular tissue into contact with the ocular tissue.
  • The present invention yet still further provides a multiple staining method of an ocular tissue, which comprises using plural kinds of labeling compositions including at least one of the above-described labeling composition and staining agent for the intraocular tissue.
  • The present invention yet still further provides an imaging method of an intraocular tissue, which comprises a step of irradiating the intraocular tissue with excitation light to observe fluorescence, and comprises staining by the above-described staining method.
  • The present invention yet still further provides an evaluating method of the condition of the retina, which comprises using the above-described imaging method of the intraocular tissue.
  • The present invention yet still further provides a screening method comprising using a model animal labeled with the above-described labeling composition for the intraocular tissue.
  • The present invention yet still further provides a screening method of a disease curing medicine or disease preventing medicine, which comprises a step of administering a test substance to a model animal, a step of administering the above-described labeling composition for the intraocular tissue to the model animal, and a step of checking the condition of the labeling of the intraocular tissue of the model animal with the labeling composition for the intraocular tissue.
    • EFFECTS OF THE INVENTION
  • The present invention provides a labeling composition for an intraocular tissue, whereby noninvasive labeling of the intraocular tissue, which has heretofore been impossible to conduct, becomes feasible, and so it is possible to image the condition of a layer structure of the intraocular tissue and the cell morphology thereof in a simple and easy way and with high definition. It is thereby possible to conduct evaluation and analysis of the intraocular tissue with high precision. In addition, the labeling composition for the intraocular tissue according to the present invention is combined with an observing and analyzing apparatus for intraocular tissues, whereby the condition of an intraocular tissue, or the retina in particular, of a living individual, which has heretofore been difficult to be observed, can be grasped with accuracy and high sensitivity, and so a new tool effective for researches and diagnoses in an ophthalmic field can be provided.
    • BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
  • FIG. 1 illustrates labeling of a retinal tissue observed in Example 4.
  • FIG. 2 illustrates labeling of a retinal tissue observed in Example 2.
  • FIG. 3 illustrates a fluorescent observation image of a retinal tissue observed in Comparative Example 1.
  • FIG. 4 illustrates an observation image of a retinal tissue in a living body observed in Example 118.
  • FIG. 5 illustrates a labeled image of a frozen section of a Zebrafish eyeball observed in Example 120.
  • FIG. 6 illustrates a labeled image of a frozen section of a man eyeball observed in Example 122.
  • FIG. 7 illustrates a labeled image of a frozen section of a mouse eyeball observed in Example 123.
    •  BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
  • The present invention will hereinafter be described in detail.
    • <Labeling of Intraocular Tissue> Definition of Labeling
  • In the present invention, the labeling of an intraocular tissue means that a pigment composition, which is an active agent in the above-described composition, is held in an intraocular tissue, or on the surface thereof, or at the periphery thereof, thereby becoming a state capable of detecting at least one of the form, position and function of the intraocular tissue. Detections include a method of acquiring a fluorescent image or labeled image by an image acquiring unit, which will be described subsequently, and a visually observing method.
  • A typical example of the labeling is staining, and the labeling composition for the intraocular tissue, by which the so-called cell staining or tissue staining becomes feasible, is provided by the present invention.
    • Labeling Mechanism
  • A detailed mechanism by which the labeling composition for the intraocular tissue according to the present invention labels a specific intraocular tissue is not known. However, it is inferred that the group of compounds provided by the present invention is easy to permeate a cell membrane and migrate because they are stable compounds with a low molecular weight and have a structure easy to be held in a specific cell, thereby being held in the specific tissue of the cell.
  • In addition, the labeling composition for the intraocular tissue according to the present invention favorably labels the intraocular tissue immediately after administration to a living body. However, it may take a certain period of time to label the intraocular tissue according to a method of administration. From this point of view, the composition favorably contains a staining compound capable of labeling within several minutes or several hours after the administration.
  • In the case where one wished to observe a change with time, it is favorable to select a staining compound remaining for a long period of time after being labeled. However, it is favorable to select a staining compound easy to be discharged by metabolism after the administration for reducing an influence on the living body.
    • <Living Sample>
  • No particular limitation is imposed on a living individual, the intraocular tissue of which can be labeled with the labeling composition for the intraocular tissue according to the present invention. However, examples of vertebrate animals include bony fishes such as T. rubripes, T. niphobles, T. nigrovirides, Japanese killifish and Zebrafish; Amphibia such as X. laevis; birds such as domestic fowl and quail; small animals such as rat, mouse and hamster; large animals such as goat, pig, dog, cat, cattle and horse; monkey; chimpanzee; and human. In particular, the intraocular tissues of these living individuals can be labeled in a living state. The human may be excluded from the living samples.
  • In Zebrafish, main organs are formed in 6 and 7 days after fertilization, and the histological form of an eyeball is also almost completed. Therefore, the use of a 7-day-old embryo makes it possible to conduct a test almost without having an influence of individual differences. In Zebrafish, at least about 200 fertilized ova are obtained in one spawning, and so there is a merit of obtaining Zebrafishes having the same genetic background to be a good convenience to screening.
    • <Intraocular Tissue>
  • No particular limitation is imposed on an intraocular tissue, which can be labeled with the labeling composition for the intraocular tissue according to the present invention, so far as it is an intraocular tissue forming an intraocular structure being in no direct contact with the outside in an eyeball and is a tissue present in the eye, excluding tissues on the surface of the eyeball. Examples thereof include a retinal tissue comprising retinal pigment epithelium layer, photoreceptor cell layer, outer limiting membrane, outer granular layer, outer reticular layer, internal granular layer, internal reticular layer, ganglion cell layer and internal limiting membrane, iris, ciliary body, choroid, lens, vitreous body, lacrimal gland, optic nerve, optic disk, optic tract, retinal blood vessel, diseased-condition tissues of these tissues, and neogenetic tissues and cancer tissues caused by diseases. When intraocular tissues different from the above-described tissues are present according to the kind of a living body or development stage or due to developmental anomaly or a disease, their tissues may also be included.
  • The labeling composition for the intraocular tissue according to the present invention is favorably used in staining of a retinal tissue in particular. In the staining of the retinal tissue, one or more tissues including the photoreceptor cell layer among the above-described plural layers forming the retinal tissue or cells thereof may be stained, so that availability becomes high in uses such as visualization of a retinal disease.
  • No particular limitation is imposed on the cells included in the above-described retinal tissue. However, examples thereof include amacrine cells, horizontal cells, bipolar cells, interplexiform cells, cone cells, rod cells, fibroblasts, Muller glia cells, and tumor cells and undifferentiated cells (stem cells) thereof. The labeling composition for the intraocular tissue according to the present invention can favorably stain one or more cells of the rod cells and plural kinds of cone cells different in the sensitivity to a wavelength region.
  • In the present invention, to stain the cell morphology of the retina means that at least one of cells making up the retinal cells is stained to become a state that the cell morphology can be clearly determined one by one.
    • <Administering Method>
  • In the present invention, to label the intraocular tissue without damaging the ocular tissue or the nerve tissue linking to the ocular tissue means labeling the intraocular tissue with the labeling composition for the intraocular tissue without applying a surgical damage such as incision of the ocular tissue or needling into the ocular tissue or the nerve tissue linking to the ocular tissue to the ocular tissue.
  • No particular limitation is imposed on the labeling method without the surgical damage. However, examples thereof include a method of exposing a part or the whole of a living individual to the labeling composition for the intraocular tissue, a method by oral contact, a method by pneumonic contact, a method by nasal contact, a method by transgastrointestinal contact, a method by transmucosal contact, a method by transhumoral contact, a method by hypoglossal contact, a method by intravascular contact such as intravenous or intra-arterial contact, a method by intra-abdominal contact, an intra-abdominal, subcutaneous, intracutaneous, intravesical or endotracheal (intrabronchial) injection method, and a method by contact with the interior of a living body by a device such as spraying or coating.
  • In the present invention, the nerve tissue linking to the ocular tissue means a nerve tissue histologically linking to the ocular tissue. Specifically, examples thereof include an optic nerve tissue and a cranial nerve tissue though not particularly limited thereto.
  • In the case of administration to an animal, the administering form, administering route and dose thereof are suitably selected according to the body weight and condition of the subject animal.
    • <Compound>
  • The compound contained in the labeling composition for the intraocular tissue according to the present invention includes a compound capable of labeling at least a photoreceptor cell layer of the retina. Favorably, the compound includes a compound selectively labeling one or more cells selected from rod cells present in the photoreceptor cell layer of the retina and plural kinds of cone cells or a part of the cell bodies of these cells. “Selective labeling” in the present invention means a state that at least a specific cell or a part thereof is labeled, and unlabeled cells or a part thereof exist in the retinal tissue.
  • The compound contained in the labeling composition for the intraocular tissue according to the present invention is favorably a low-molecular weight compound because the compound is caused to migrate to the intraocular tissue as an object of labeling, in particular, the retinal tissue, and so a compound having a molecular weight of 2,000 or less is selected. The compound is favorably a compound having a molecular weight of favorably 1,500 or less, particularly 1,000 or less.
  • The compound of the present invention is favorably a fluorescent compound having fluorescence. Since the fluorescent compound is high in sensitivity, labeling becomes feasible at a low concentration, and so a necessary amount of the compound can be relatively reduced. Compounds different in labeling sites and fluorescent spectrum are combined and selected, whereby multiple labeling of plural tissues becomes feasible, so that information on a plurality of tissues can be obtained in one observation, and so availability becomes high.
  • The compound used in the labeling composition for the intraocular tissue according to the present invention is favorably a staining compound having a structure represented by the following general formula (I) or general formula (II) as a partial structure thereof.
  • Figure US20110236310A1-20110929-C00007
  • In the general formula (I), R1 and R2 are, independently of each other, a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group or an aryl group, and R1 and R2 may bond to each other to form a ring.
  • No particular limitation is imposed on the alkyl group in R1 and R2. However, examples thereof include linear, branched or cyclic alkyl groups having 1 to 20 carbon atoms, such as methyl, ethyl, propyl, butyl, pentyl, hexyl, octyl, nonyl, decyl, undecyl, dodecyl, tridecyl, tetradecyl, pentadecyl, hexadecyl, heptadecyl, octadecyl, nonadecyl, cyclopropyl, cyclobutyl and cyclopentyl groups.
  • No particular limitation is imposed on the aryl group in R1 and R2. However, examples thereof include 6- to 14-membered monocyclic or polycyclic aryl groups such as phenyl, naphthyl, phenanthryl and anthracenyl groups.
  • R1 and R2 may additionally have substituent(s), and no particular limitation is imposed on the substituent(s) so far as the storage stability of the staining compound is not markedly impaired. Examples thereof include alkyl groups such as methyl, ethyl, n-propyl, isopropyl, n-butyl, isobutyl, sec-butyl and tert-butyl groups; aryl groups such as phenyl and naphthyl groups; alkoxy groups such as methoxy, ethoxy and butoxy groups; aryloxy groups such as phenoxy and naphtyloxy groups; alkylsulfanyl groups such as thiomethyl, thioethyl, thiopropyl, thiobutyl and thiophenyl groups; mono-substituted amino groups such as methylamino and butylamino groups; di-substituted amino groups such as dimethylamino, N-ethyl-N-phenylamino and diphenylamino groups; acyl groups such as acetyl, benzoyl, carboxyl, carboxylate and carbamoyl groups; sulfonyl groups such as sulfonic, sulfonate and sulfamoyl groups; heterocyclic groups such as pyridyl, triazinyl and benzothiazolyl groups; a nitro group; halogen atoms such as fluorine, chlorine, bromine and iodine atoms; a polyethylene glycol groups; and salts such as quaternary ammonium salts, carboxylates and sulfonates. The groups favorably have a substituent having such a nature that the water solubility is improved, among these substituents. Particularly favorable examples of such a substituent include carboxyl, sulfonic, polyethylene glycol, carboxylate and sulfonate groups though not limited thereto. Description of these substituents exemplified above is hereinafter omitted as described as “favorable examples of additional substituents” in the present specification.
  • No particular limitation is imposed on the ring formed by bonding R1 and R2 to each other. However, examples thereof include heterocycles such as pyridine, piperazine, morpholine, thiomorpholine and pyridinium rings.
    • Description of A in General Formula (I)
  • A is a structure represented by any one of the following general formulae (III) to (IX) and (VIII′).
  • Figure US20110236310A1-20110929-C00008
    Figure US20110236310A1-20110929-C00009
  • Each structure will hereinafter be described in detail.
    • Description of General Formula (III)
  • In the general formula (III), R6 is an aryl group. R7, R8, R10 and R11 are, independently of one another, a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group, an aryl group or a halogen atom. R9 is an ammonium salt group having a counter anion.
  • No particular limitation is imposed on the aryl group in R6. However, examples thereof include 6- to 14-membered monocyclic or polycyclic aryl groups such as phenyl, naphthyl, phenanthryl and anthracenyl groups. The ring may additionally have substituent(s), and no particular limitation is imposed on the substituent(s) so far as the storage stability of the staining compound is not markedly impaired. Examples thereof include substituents described as “favorable examples of additional substituents” above.
  • The group favorably has a substituent having such a nature that the water solubility is improved, among these substituents. Particularly favorable examples of such a substituent include carboxyl, sulfonic, polyethylene glycol, carboxylate and sulfonate groups though not limited thereto.
  • R6 is favorably a phenyl or naphthyl group. In particular, a phenyl group having a water-soluble substituent such as a carboxyl, sulfonic, polyethylene glycol, carboxylate or sulfonate group is favorable from the viewpoint of improving the water solubility of the compound.
  • No particular limitation is imposed on the alkyl group in R7, R8, R10 and R11. However, examples thereof include linear, branched or cyclic alkyl groups having 1 to 20 carbon atoms, such as methyl, ethyl, propyl, butyl, pentyl, hexyl, octyl, nonyl, decyl, undecyl, dodecyl, tridecyl, tetradecyl, pentadecyl, hexadecyl, heptadecyl, octadecyl, nonadecyl, cyclopropyl, cyclobutyl and cyclopentyl groups.
  • No particular limitation is imposed on the aryl group in R7, R8, R10 and R11. However, examples thereof include 6- to 14-membered monocyclic or polycyclic aryl groups such as phenyl, naphthyl, phenanthryl and anthracenyl groups.
  • Examples of the halogen atom in R7, R8, R10 and R11 include fluorine, chlorine, bromine and iodine atoms.
  • R7, R8, R10 and R11 are each favorably a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group or a halogen atom, and the hydrogen atom is particularly favorable from the viewpoint of stability of the compound.
  • No particular limitation is imposed on the ammonium salt group having a counter anion in R9. However, examples thereof include amino groups obtained by converting an amino group to a quaternary salt. No particular limitation is imposed on the counter anion. However, examples thereof include halide ions such as fluoride, chloride, bromide and iodide ions; inorganic acid ions such as sulfate, phosphate, nitrate, tetrafluoroborate and hexafluorophosphate ions; Lewis-acid-containing ions such as tetrachloroaluminate ion; and organic acid ions such as acetate, lactate, methanesulfonate, benzenesulfonate, p-toluenesulfonate, trifluoroacetate, trifluoromethanesulfonate and tetraphenylborate ions.
  • When R6 in the molecular structure represented by the general formula (III) is an aromatic ring having a sulfonic or carboxyl group at an ortho position, a tautomer of the following general formula (III′) or (III″) exists. The structure represented by the general formula (III) that the staining compound according to the present invention has also includes a structure represented by the following general formula (III′) or (III″).
  • Figure US20110236310A1-20110929-C00010
  • wherein R7 to R11 in the general formulae (III′) and (III″) have the same meanings as R7 to R11 in the general formulae (III).
    • Description of General Formula (IV)
  • In the general formula (IV), R12 and R13 are, independently of each other, a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group, an aryl group or a heterocyclic group. R14 to R16 are, independently of one another, a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group, an aryl group, a heterocyclic group, a halogen atom or an amino group.
  • No particular limitation is imposed on the alkyl group in R12, R13, and R14 to R16. However, examples thereof include linear, branched or cyclic alkyl groups having 1 to 20 carbon atoms, such as methyl, ethyl, propyl, butyl, pentyl, hexyl, octyl, nonyl, decyl, undecyl, dodecyl, tridecyl, tetradecyl, pentadecyl, hexadecyl, heptadecyl, octadecyl, nonadecyl, cyclopropyl, cyclobutyl and cyclopentyl groups.
  • No particular limitation is imposed on the aryl group in R12, R13, and R14 to R16. However, examples thereof include 6- to 14-membered monocyclic or polycyclic aryl groups such as phenyl, naphthyl, phenanthryl and anthracenyl groups.
  • No particular limitation is imposed on the heterocyclic group in R12, R13, and R14 to R16. However, examples thereof include 4- to 10-membered monocyclic or bicyclic heterocyclic groups containing 1 to 4 atoms selected from nitrogen, oxygen and sulfur. Examples of these groups include pyridyl, pyrazinyl, pyrimidinyl, pyrrolyl, thienyl, furyl, pyranyl, oxazolyl, thiazolyl, triazolyl, tetrazolyl, imidazolyl, pyrazolyl, morpholinyl, thiomorpholinyl, piperidinyl, piperazinyl, quinolyl, isoquinolyl, indolyl, isoindolyl, benzofuryl and benzothienyl groups.
  • R12 and R13 are each favorably an alkyl group, with a methyl, ethyl, propyl or butyl group being particularly favorable.
  • Examples of the halogen atom in R14 to R16 include fluorine, chlorine, bromine and iodine atoms.
  • No particular limitation is imposed on the amino group in R14 to R16. However, examples thereof include an unsubstituted amino group; mono-substituted amino groups such as N-methylamino, N-butylamino, N-hexylamino, N-tetradecylamino, N-phenylamino and N-naphthylamino groups; di-substituted amino groups such as N,N-dimethylamino, N,N-diethylamino, N,N-diphenylamino and N,N-methylpropylamino groups; carbonylamino groups such as acetylamino, ethylcarbonylamino, tert-butylcarbonylamino, benzoylamino, naphthoylamino and methoxycarbonylamino groups; and sulfonylamino groups such methylsulfonylamino, ethylsulfonylamino, tert-butylsulfonylamino and isopropoxysulfonylamino groups.
  • R14 to R16 are each favorably a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group, a halogen atom or an amino group, with the hydrogen atom being particularly favorable.
    • Description of General Formula (V)
  • In the general formula (V), R17 and R18 are, independently of each other, a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group or an alkoxy group. R19 and R20 are, independently of each other, a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group, an alkoxy group, a hydroxyl group or a cyano group. R21 is a heterocyclic group or —CH═C(R22)(R23). R22 and R23 are, independently of each other, a hydrogen atom, a cyano group, a heterocyclic group, a carboxyl group or a carboxylate group. R1 and R17, R2 and R18, and R22 and R23 may, independently of one another, bond to each other to form a ring.
  • No particular limitation is imposed on the alkyl group in R17 to R20. However, examples thereof include linear, branched or cyclic alkyl groups having 1 to 20 carbon atoms, such as methyl, ethyl, propyl, butyl, pentyl, hexyl, octyl, nonyl, decyl, undecyl, dodecyl, tridecyl, tetradecyl, pentadecyl, hexadecyl, heptadecyl, octadecyl, nonadecyl, cyclopropyl, cyclobutyl and cyclopentyl groups.
  • No particular limitation is imposed on the alkoxy group in R17 to R20. However, examples thereof include alkoxy groups having 1 to 20 carbon atoms, such as methoxy, ethoxy, propoxy, butoxy, pentyloxy, hexyloxy, heptyloxy, octyloxy, nonyloxy, decyloxy, dodecyloxy and octadecyloxy groups.
  • R17 to R20 are each favorably a hydrogen atom or an alkoxy group, with the hydrogen atom being particularly favorable from the viewpoint of stability of the compound.
  • No particular limitation is imposed on the heterocyclic group in R21 to R23. However, examples thereof include 4- to 10-membered monocyclic or bicyclic heterocyclic groups containing 1 to 4 atoms selected from nitrogen, oxygen and sulfur. Examples of these groups include pyridyl, pyrazinyl, pyrimidinyl, pyrrolyl, thienyl, furyl, pyranyl, oxazolyl, thiazolyl, triazolyl, tetrazolyl, imidazolyl, pyrazolyl, morpholinyl, thiomorpholinyl, piperidinyl, piperazinyl, quinolyl, isoquinolyl, indolyl, isoindolyl, benzofuryl and benzothienyl groups.
  • The heterocyclic group in R21 is favorably an oxazolyl, thiazolyl or imidazolyl group, with the oxazolyl group being particularly favorable from the viewpoint of staining ability.
  • No particular limitation is imposed on the carboxylate group in R21 to R23. However, examples thereof include methyl carboxylate, ethyl carboxylate, propyl carboxylate and butyl carboxylate groups.
  • R21 to R23 are each favorably a pyridyl, pyrazinyl, pyrimidinyl, oxazolyl, thiazolyl, triazolyl, tetrazolyl, imidazolyl or pyrazolyl group, with the oxazolyl, thiazolyl or imidazolyl group being particularly favorable from the viewpoint of stability of the compound.
  • No particular limitation is imposed on the ring formed by bonding, independently of one another, R1 and R17, R2 and R18, and R22 and R23 to each other. However, examples thereof include aromatic rings having 3 to 10 carbon atoms, such as benzene and naphthalene rings; saturated rings such as cyclooctane, cycloheptane, cyclohexane, cyclopentane and cyclobutane rings; partially saturated rings such as cyclopentene and cyclohexene rings; and heterocycles such as pyridine, tetrahydropyridine and pyrimidine rings. These rings may additionally have substituent(s), and no particular limitation is imposed on the substituent(s) so far as the storage stability of the staining compound is not markedly impaired. Examples thereof include substituents described as “favorable examples of additional substituents” above.
  • The ring favorably has a substituent having such a nature that the water solubility is improved, among these substituents. Particularly favorable examples of such a substituent include carboxyl, sulfonic, polyethylene glycol, carboxylate and sulfonate groups though not limited thereto.
  • The ring formed by bonding, independently of one another, R1 and R17, R2 and R18, and R22 and R23 to each other is favorably a heterocycle, with a tetrahydropyridine ring being particularly favorable.
    • Description of General Formula (VI)
  • In the general formula (VI), R24 is a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group, an aryl group or a heterocyclic group.
  • No particular limitation is imposed on the alkyl group in R24. However, examples thereof include linear, branched or cyclic alkyl groups having 1 to 20 carbon atoms, such as methyl, ethyl, propyl, butyl, pentyl, hexyl, octyl, nonyl, decyl, undecyl, dodecyl, tridecyl, tetradecyl, pentadecyl, hexadecyl, heptadecyl, octadecyl, nonadecyl, cyclopropyl, cyclobutyl and cyclopentyl groups. The group may additionally have substituent(s), and no particular limitation is imposed on the substituent(s) so far as the storage stability of the staining compound is not markedly impaired. Examples thereof include substituents described as “favorable examples of additional substituents” above.
  • The group favorably has a substituent having such a nature that the water solubility is improved, among these substituents. Particularly favorable examples of such a substituent include carboxyl, sulfonic, polyethylene glycol, carboxylate and sulfonate groups though not limited thereto.
  • No particular limitation is imposed on the aryl group in R24. However, examples thereof include 6- to 14-membered monocyclic or polycyclic aryl groups such as phenyl, naphthyl, phenanthryl and anthracenyl groups.
  • No particular limitation is imposed on the heterocyclic group in R24. However, examples thereof include 4- to 10-membered monocyclic or bicyclic heterocyclic groups containing 1 to 4 atoms selected from nitrogen, oxygen and sulfur. Examples of these groups include pyridyl, pyrazinyl, pyrimidinyl, pyrrolyl, thienyl, furyl, pyranyl, oxazolyl, thiazolyl, triazolyl, tetrazolyl, imidazolyl, pyrazolyl, morpholinyl, thiomorpholinyl, piperidinyl, piperazinyl, quinolyl, isoquinolyl, indolyl, isoindolyl, benzofuryl and benzothienyl groups.
  • R24 is favorably an alkyl group, with a methyl, ethyl, propyl, butyl, pentyl or hexyl group being particularly favorable from the viewpoint of stability of the compound.
    • Description of General Formula (VII)
  • In the general formula (VII), R25 is an oxygen atom, a sulfur atom or N(R27). R26 is a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group, an alkoxy group or a sulfonic group. R27 is a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group or an aryl group.
  • R25 is favorably an oxygen atom or N(R27), with NH being particularly favorable from the viewpoint of staining ability.
  • No particular limitation is imposed on the alkyl group in R26 and R27. However, examples thereof include linear, branched or cyclic alkyl groups having 1 to 20 carbon atoms, such as methyl, ethyl, propyl, butyl, pentyl, hexyl, octyl, nonyl, decyl, undecyl, dodecyl, tridecyl, tetradecyl, pentadecyl, hexadecyl, heptadecyl, octadecyl, nonadecyl, cyclopropyl, cyclobutyl and cyclopentyl groups.
  • No particular limitation is imposed on the alkoxy group in R26. However, examples thereof include alkoxy groups having 1 to 20 carbon atoms, such as methoxy, ethoxy, propoxy, butoxy, pentyloxy, hexyloxy, heptyloxy, octyloxy, nonyloxy, decyloxy, dodecyloxy and octadecyloxy groups.
  • R26 is favorably a hydrogen atom or a sulfonic group, with the hydrogen atom being particularly favorable.
  • No particular limitation is imposed on the aryl group in R27. However, examples thereof include 6- to 14-membered monocyclic or polycyclic aryl groups such as phenyl, naphthyl, phenanthryl and anthracenyl groups.
    • Description of General Formula (VIII)
  • In the general formula (VIII), R28 is a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group or an aryl group.
  • No particular limitation is imposed on the alkyl group in R28. However, examples thereof include linear, branched or cyclic alkyl groups having 1 to 20 carbon atoms, such as methyl, ethyl, propyl, butyl, pentyl, hexyl, octyl, nonyl, decyl, undecyl, dodecyl, tridecyl, tetradecyl, pentadecyl, hexadecyl, heptadecyl, octadecyl, nonadecyl, cyclopropyl, cyclobutyl and cyclopentyl groups. The group may additionally have substituent(s), and no particular limitation is imposed on the substituent(s) so far as the storage stability of the staining compound is not markedly impaired. Examples thereof include substituents described as “favorable examples of additional substituents” above.
  • The group favorably has a substituent having such a nature that the water solubility is improved, among these substituents. Particularly favorable examples of such a substituent include carboxyl, sulfonic, polyethylene glycol, carboxylate and sulfonate groups though not limited thereto.
  • No particular limitation is imposed on the aryl group in R28. However, examples thereof include 6- to 14-membered monocyclic or polycyclic aryl groups such as phenyl, naphthyl, phenanthryl and anthracenyl groups.
    • Description of General Formula (VIII′)
  • In the general formula (VIII′), R28′ is a halogen atom, an alkoxy group or an aryloxy group.
  • The halogen atom in R28′ is a chlorine, bromine or iodine atom.
  • No particular limitation is imposed on the alkoxy group in R28′. However, examples thereof include alkoxy groups having 1 to 20 carbon atoms, such as methoxy, ethoxy, propoxy, butoxy, pentyloxy, decyloxy, hexyloxy, heptyloxy, octyloxy, nonyloxy, decyloxy, dodecyloxy and octadecyloxy groups. The group may additionally have substituent(s), and no particular limitation is imposed on the substituent(s) so far as the storage stability of the staining compound is not markedly impaired. Examples thereof include substituents described as “favorable examples of additional substituents” above.
  • The group favorably has a substituent having such a nature that the water solubility is improved, among these substituents. Particularly favorable examples of such a substituent include carboxyl, sulfonic, polyethylene glycol, carboxylate and sulfonate groups though not limited thereto.
  • No particular limitation is imposed on the aryl group in R28′. However, examples thereof include 6- to 14-membered monocyclic or polycyclic aryl groups such as phenyl, naphthyl, phenanthryl and anthracenyl groups.
    • Description of General Formula (IX)
  • In the general formula (IX), R29 is a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group or an aryl group.
  • No particular limitation is imposed on the alkyl group in R29. However, examples thereof include linear, branched or cyclic alkyl groups having 1 to 20 carbon atoms, such as methyl, ethyl, propyl, butyl, pentyl, hexyl, octyl, nonyl, decyl, undecyl, dodecyl, tridecyl, tetradecyl, pentadecyl, hexadecyl, heptadecyl, octadecyl, nonadecyl, cyclopropyl, cyclobutyl and cyclopentyl groups. The group may additionally have substituent(s), and no particular limitation is imposed on the substituent(s) so far as the storage stability of the staining compound is not markedly impaired. Examples thereof include substituents described as “favorable examples of additional substituents” above.
  • The group favorably has a substituent having such a nature that the water solubility is improved, among these substituents. Particularly favorable examples of such a substituent include carboxyl, sulfonic, polyethylene glycol, carboxylate and sulfonate groups though not limited thereto.
  • No particular limitation is imposed on the aryl group in R29. However, examples thereof include 6- to 14-membered monocyclic or polycyclic aryl groups such as phenyl, naphthyl, phenanthryl and anthracenyl groups.
    • Another Mode of A in the General Formula (I)
  • When A is a structure represented by the following general formula (X), R1 and R2 in the general formula (I) bond to each other to form one substituent group: ═N—R30. R30 is an aryl group or a heterocyclic group.
  • Figure US20110236310A1-20110929-C00011
  • In the general formula (X), R31 and R32 are individually a sulfonic group or a salt thereof. R33 and R34 are individually a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group, an alkoxy group or a halogen atom.
  • No particular limitation is imposed on the alkyl group in R33 and R34. However, examples thereof include linear, branched or cyclic alkyl groups having 1 to 20 carbon atoms, such as methyl, ethyl, propyl, butyl, pentyl, hexyl, octyl, nonyl, decyl, undecyl, dodecyl, tridecyl, tetradecyl, pentadecyl, hexadecyl, heptadecyl, octadecyl, nonadecyl, cyclopropyl, cyclobutyl and cyclopentyl groups.
  • No particular limitation is imposed on the alkoxy group in R33 to R34. However, examples thereof include alkoxy groups having 1 to 20 carbon atoms, such as methoxy, ethoxy, propoxy, butoxy, pentyloxy, decyloxy, hexyloxy, heptyloxy, octyloxy, nonyloxy, decyloxy, dodecyloxy and octadecyloxy groups.
  • Examples of the halogen atom in R33 and R34 include fluorine, chlorine, bromine and iodine atoms.
  • R33 to R34 are each favorably a hydrogen atom, an alkoxy group or a halogen atom, with the hydrogen atom being particularly favorable.
  • No particular limitation is imposed on the aryl group in R30. However, examples thereof include 6- to 14-membered monocyclic or polycyclic aryl groups such as phenyl, naphthyl, phenanthryl and anthracenyl groups.
  • R30 is favorably an aryl group, with a naphthyl group being particularly favorable.
    • Description of General Formula (II)
  • In addition, in the general formula (II), R3 and R4 are, independently of each other, a hydrogen atom, an alkenyl group, a cyano group, a carboxyl group, a carboxylate group, a sulfonic group, an acyl group or a heterocyclic group. R3 and R4 may bond to each other to form a ring. R5 is a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group, an aryl group or a heterocyclic group.
  • No particular limitation is imposed on the alkenyl group in R3 and R4 of the general formula (II). However, examples thereof include alkenyl groups having 2 to 20 carbon atoms, such as vinyl, 2,2-diphenylvinyl, 3-butenyl and cyclohexenyl groups.
  • No particular limitation is imposed on the carboxylate group in R3 and R4. However, examples thereof include methyl carboxylate, ethyl carboxylate, propyl carboxylate and butyl carboxylate groups.
  • No particular limitation is imposed on the acyl group in R3 and R4. However, examples thereof include acetyl, propionyl, butyryl, pentanoyl, benzoyl, 1-naphthoyl and 2-naphthoyl groups.
  • No particular limitation is imposed on the heterocyclic group in R3 and R4. However, examples thereof include 4- to 10-membered monocyclic or bicyclic heterocyclic groups containing 1 to 4 atoms selected from nitrogen, oxygen and sulfur. Examples of these groups include pyridyl, pyrazinyl, pyrimidinyl, pyrrolyl, thienyl, furyl, pyranyl, oxazolyl, thiazolyl, triazolyl, tetrazolyl, imidazolyl, pyrazolyl, morpholinyl, thiomorpholinyl, piperidinyl, piperazinyl, quinolyl, isoquinolyl, indolyl, isoindolyl, benzofuryl and benzothienyl groups.
  • Either one of R3 and R4 is favorably a cyano, carboxyl or heterocyclic group from the viewpoint of ease of synthesis of the compound, and either one of R3 and R4 is particularly favorably a cyano group.
  • Description of the Case where One of R3 and R4 in General Formula (II) is Hydrogen Atom, and the Other is Heterocyclic Group of General Formula (XI)
  • R3 and R4 are favorably such that one of them is a hydrogen atom and the other is a heterocyclic group of the general formula (XI).
  • Figure US20110236310A1-20110929-C00012
  • wherein in the general formula (XI), R35 is an alkyl group or an aryl group, R36 to R39 are, independently of one another, a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group, an aryl group, an alkoxy group, a carboxyl group, a sulfonic group, a heterocyclic group, an amino group or a halogen atom, R36 and R37, R37 and R38, or R38 and R39 may bond to each other to form a ring, X− is an anionic group, and Q1 is a sulfur atom, an oxygen atom, —C(R40)(R41)—, —CH═CH— or —N(R42)—, in which R40 to R42 are individually a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group or an aryl group, and R40 and R41 may bond to each other to form a ring.
  • No particular limitation is imposed on the alkyl group in R35, and R36 to R39. However, examples thereof include linear, branched or cyclic alkyl groups having 1 to 20 carbon atoms, such as methyl, ethyl, propyl, butyl, pentyl, hexyl, octyl, nonyl, decyl, undecyl, dodecyl, tridecyl, tetradecyl, pentadecyl, hexadecyl, heptadecyl, octadecyl, nonadecyl, cyclopropyl, cyclobutyl and cyclopentyl groups.
  • No particular limitation is imposed on the aryl group in R35, and R36 to R39. However, examples thereof include 6- to 14-membered monocyclic or polycyclic aryl groups such as phenyl, naphthyl, phenanthryl and anthracenyl groups.
  • R35 may additionally have substituent(s), and no particular limitation is imposed on the substituent(s) so far as the storage stability of the staining compound is not markedly impaired. Examples thereof include substituents described as “favorable examples of additional substituents” above.
  • The group favorably has a substituent having such a nature that the water solubility is improved, among these substituents. Particularly favorable examples of such a substituent include carboxyl, sulfonic, polyethylene glycol, carboxylate and sulfonate groups though not limited thereto.
  • R35 is favorably an alkyl group, and it is favorable that the alkyl group additionally has a substituent such as a carboxyl, sulfonic, polyethylene glycol, carboxylate or sulfonate group, since the water solubility of the resulting compound is increased, and the fluorescence intensity thereof is also increased.
  • No particular limitation is imposed on the alkoxy group in R36 to R39. However, examples thereof include alkoxy groups having 1 to 20 carbon atoms, such as methoxy, ethoxy, propoxy, butoxy, pentyloxy, decyloxy, hexyloxy, heptyloxy, octyloxy, nonyloxy, decyloxy, dodecyloxy and octadecyloxy groups.
  • No particular limitation is imposed on the heterocyclic group in R36 to R39. However, examples thereof include 4- to 10-membered monocyclic or bicyclic heterocyclic groups containing 1 to 4 atoms selected from nitrogen, oxygen and sulfur. Examples of these groups include pyridyl, pyrazinyl, pyrimidinyl, pyrrolyl, thienyl, furyl, pyranyl, oxazolyl, thiazolyl, triazolyl, tetrazolyl, imidazolyl, pyrazolyl, morpholinyl, thiomorpholinyl, piperidinyl, piperazinyl, quinolyl, isoquinolyl, indolyl, isoindolyl, benzofuryl and benzothienyl groups.
  • No particular limitation is imposed on the amino group in R36 to R39. However, examples thereof include an unsubstituted amino group; mono-substituted amino groups such as N-methylamino, N-butylamino, N-hexylamino, N-tetradecylamino, N-phenylamino and N-naphthylamino groups; di-substituted amino groups such as N,N-dimethylamino, N,N-diethylamino, N,N-diphenylamino and N,N-methylpropylamino groups; carbonylamino groups such as acetylamino, ethylcarbonylamino, tert-butylcarbonylamino, benzoylamino, naphthoylamino and methoxycarbonylamino groups; and sulfonylamino groups such methylsulfonylamino, ethylsulfonylamino, tert-butylsulfonylamino and isopropoxysulfonylamino groups.
  • Examples of the halogen atom in R36 to R39 include fluorine, chlorine, bromine and iodine atoms.
  • R36 to R39 are each favorably a hydrogen atom, a carboxyl group, a sulfonic group, an amino group or a halogen atom, and a hydrogen atom or a sulfonic group is particularly favorable because the water solubility of the resulting compound is improved.
  • No particular limitation is imposed on the ring formed by bonding R36 and R37, R37 and R38, or R38 and R39 to each other. However, examples thereof include aromatic rings having 3 to 10 carbon atoms, such as benzene and naphthalene rings; saturated rings such as cyclooctane, cycloheptane, cyclohexane, cyclopentane and cyclobutane rings; partially saturated rings such as cyclopentene and cyclohexene rings; and heterocycles such as pyridine and pyrimidine rings. The ring may additionally have substituent(s), and no particular limitation is imposed on the substituent(s) so far as the storage stability of the staining compound is not markedly impaired. Examples thereof include substituents described as “favorable examples of additional substituents” above.
  • The ring favorably has a substituent having such a nature that the water solubility is improved, among these substituents. Particularly favorable examples of such a substituent include carboxyl, sulfonic, polyethylene glycol, carboxylate and sulfonate groups though not limited thereto.
  • The ring formed by bonding R36 and R37, R37 and R38, or R38 and R39 to each other is favorably a benzene ring because the storage stability of the resulting compound is improved.
    • Description of X− in General Formula (XI)
  • In the general formula (XI), X− is an anionic group. No particular limitation is imposed on the anionic group. However, examples thereof include halide ions such as fluoride, chloride, bromide and iodide ions; inorganic acid ions such as sulfate, phosphate, nitrate, tetrafluoroborate and hexafluorophosphate ions; Lewis-acid-containing ions such as tetrachloroaluminate ion; and organic acid ions such as acetate, lactate, methanesulfonate, benzenesulfonate, p-toluenesulfonate, trifluoroacetate, trifluoromethanesulfonate and tetraphenylborate ions.
  • The anionic group of X− is favorably a chloride, bromide, iodide, sulfate, nitrate or methanesulfonate ion and more favorably a bromide or iodide ion from the viewpoint of ease of synthesis of the compound.
    • Description of Q1 in General Formula (XI)
  • In the general formula (XI), Q1 is a sulfur atom, oxygen atom, —C(R40)(R41)—, —CH═CH— or —N(R42)—.
  • No particular limitation is imposed on the alkyl group in R40 to R42. However, examples thereof include linear, branched or cyclic alkyl groups having 1 to 20 carbon atoms, such as methyl, ethyl, propyl, butyl, pentyl, hexyl, octyl, nonyl, decyl, undecyl, dodecyl, tridecyl, tetradecyl, pentadecyl, hexadecyl, heptadecyl, octadecyl, nonadecyl, cyclopropyl, cyclobutyl and cyclopentyl groups.
  • No particular limitation is imposed on the aryl group in R40 to R42. However, examples thereof include 6- to 14-membered monocyclic or polycyclic aryl groups such as phenyl, naphthyl, phenanthryl and anthracenyl groups.
  • R40 and R41 in Q1 may bond to each other to form a ring, and examples thereof include cyclohexane, piperidine and piperidinium rings.
  • Q1 is particularly favorably an oxygen atom, sulfur atom or —C(CH3)(CH3)— because the storage stability of the compound is improved.
  • It is also favorable that Q1 is —C(CH2)5—, since the staining ability of the compound becomes excellent.
    • Description of Ring Formed by Bonding R3 and R4 in General Formula (II) to Each Other
  • The ring formed by bonding R3 and R4 in the general formula (II) to each other is represented by any one of the following general formulae (XII), (XIII) and (XV).
  • Figure US20110236310A1-20110929-C00013
  • In the general formula (XII), R43 is a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group, an aryl group or a heterocyclic group, and R44 is an alkyl group, an aryl group, a carboxyl group, a carboxylate group, a hydroxyl group or an amino group.
  • No particular limitation is imposed on the alkyl group in R43 and R44. However, examples thereof include linear, branched or cyclic alkyl groups having 1 to 20 carbon atoms, such as methyl, ethyl, propyl, butyl, pentyl, hexyl, octyl, nonyl, decyl, undecyl, dodecyl, tridecyl, tetradecyl, pentadecyl, hexadecyl, heptadecyl, octadecyl, nonadecyl, cyclopropyl, cyclobutyl and cyclopentyl groups.
  • No particular limitation is imposed on the aryl group in R43 and R44. However, examples thereof include 6- to 14-membered monocyclic or polycyclic aryl groups such as phenyl, naphthyl, phenanthryl and anthracenyl groups.
  • The ring may additionally have substituent(s), and no particular limitation is imposed on the substituent(s) so far as the storage stability of the staining compound is not markedly impaired. Examples thereof include substituents described as “favorable examples of additional substituents” above.
  • The ring favorably has a substituent having such a nature that the water solubility is improved, among these substituents. Particularly favorable examples of such a substituent include carboxyl, sulfonic, polyethylene glycol, carboxylate and sulfonate groups though not limited thereto.
  • No particular limitation is imposed on the heterocyclic group in R43. However, examples thereof include 4- to 10-membered monocyclic or bicyclic heterocyclic groups containing 1 to 4 atoms selected from nitrogen, oxygen and sulfur. Examples of these groups include pyridyl, pyrazinyl, pyrimidinyl, pyrrolyl, thienyl, furyl, pyranyl, oxazolyl, thiazolyl, triazolyl, tetrazolyl, imidazolyl, pyrazolyl, morpholinyl, thiomorpholinyl, piperidinyl, piperazinyl, quinolyl, isoquinolyl, indolyl, isoindolyl, benzofuryl and benzothienyl groups.
  • R43 is favorably an aryl group from the viewpoint of stability of the compound. It is also favorable that the aryl group has a water-soluble substituent such as a carboxyl group, since the water solubility of the compound is improved.
  • No particular limitation is imposed on the carboxylate group in R44. However, examples thereof include methyl carboxylate, ethyl carboxylate, propyl carboxylate and butyl carboxylate groups.
  • No particular limitation is imposed on the amino group in R44. However, examples thereof include an unsubstituted amino group; mono-substituted amino groups such as N-methylamino, N-butylamino, N-hexylamino, N-tetradecylamino, N-phenylamino and N-naphthylamino groups; di-substituted amino groups such as N,N-dimethylamino, N,N-diethylamino, N,N-diphenylamino and N,N-methylpropylamino groups; carbonylamino groups such as acetylamino, ethylcarbonylamino, tert-butylcarbonylamino, benzoylamino, naphthoylamino and methoxycarbonylamino groups; and sulfonylamino groups such methylsulfonylamino, ethylsulfonylamino, tert-butylsulfonylamino and isopropoxysulfonylamino groups.
  • R44 is favorably an alkyl, aryl, carboxyl or amino group from the viewpoint of easy of synthesis of the compound, with the alkyl or carboxyl group being particularly favorable.
    • Description of General Formula (XIII)
  • In the general formula (XIII), Q2 is an oxygen atom, a sulfur atom or —N(R52)—. R45 is a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group, an aryl group or a heterocyclic group, R46 is a sulfur atom, an oxygen atom, ═NR53, a heterocyclic group or a dicyanomethylene group, and R52 and R53 are individually a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group, an aryl group or a heterocyclic group.
  • No particular limitation is imposed on the alkyl group in R45, R52 and R53. However, examples thereof include linear, branched or cyclic alkyl groups having 1 to 20 carbon atoms, such as methyl, ethyl, propyl, butyl, pentyl, hexyl, octyl, nonyl, decyl, undecyl, dodecyl, tridecyl, tetradecyl, pentadecyl, hexadecyl, heptadecyl, octadecyl, nonadecyl, cyclopropyl, cyclobutyl and cyclopentyl groups. The group may additionally have substituent(s), and no particular limitation is imposed on the substituent(s) so far as the storage stability of the staining compound is not markedly impaired. Examples thereof include substituents described as “favorable examples of additional substituents” above.
  • The group favorably has a substituent having such a nature that the water solubility is improved, among these substituents. Particularly favorable examples of such a substituent include carboxyl, sulfonic, polyethylene glycol, carboxylate and sulfonate groups though not limited thereto.
  • No particular limitation is imposed on the aryl group in R45, R52 and R53. However, examples thereof include 6- to 14-membered monocyclic or polycyclic aryl groups such as phenyl, naphthyl, phenanthryl and anthracenyl groups.
  • No particular limitation is imposed on the heterocyclic group in R45, R52 and R53. However, examples thereof include 4- to 10-membered monocyclic or bicyclic heterocyclic groups containing 1 to 4 atoms selected from nitrogen, oxygen and sulfur. Examples of these groups include pyridyl, pyrazinyl, pyrimidinyl, pyrrolyl, thienyl, furyl, pyranyl, oxazolyl, thiazolyl, triazolyl, tetrazolyl, imidazolyl, pyrazolyl, morpholinyl, thiomorpholinyl, piperidinyl, piperazinyl, quinolyl, isoquinolyl, indolyl, isoindolyl, benzofuryl and benzothienyl groups.
  • R45 is favorably an alkyl group, and it is favorable that the alkyl group additionally has a substituent such as a carboxyl, sulfonic, polyethylene glycol, carboxylate or sulfonate group, since the water solubility of the resulting compound is increased, and the fluorescence intensity thereof is also increased.
  • R46 is favorably a sulfur atom, oxygen atom or heterocycle.
  • It is favorable that R46 is a sulfur atom, since the compound tends to improve the staining ability thereof, and that R46 is 2-thioxothiazolidin-4-one having a substituent at the 3-position, since detection of a maximum fluorescence wavelength is often conducted in such a larger wavelength region as a near-infrared wavelength region, so that the compound can be used in near-infrared applications.
    • Description of General Formula (XV)
  • In the general formula (XV), R49 and R50 are, independently of each other, a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group or an aryl group, and R51 is an oxygen atom or a sulfur atom.
  • No particular limitation is imposed on the alkyl group in R49 and R50. However, examples thereof include linear, branched or cyclic alkyl groups having 1 to 20 carbon atoms, such as methyl, ethyl, propyl, butyl, pentyl, hexyl, octyl, nonyl, decyl, undecyl, dodecyl, tridecyl, tetradecyl, pentadecyl, hexadecyl, heptadecyl, octadecyl, nonadecyl, cyclopropyl, cyclobutyl and cyclopentyl groups.
  • No particular limitation is imposed on the aryl group in R49 and R50. However, examples thereof include 6- to 14-membered monocyclic or polycyclic aryl groups such as phenyl, naphthyl, phenanthryl and anthracenyl groups.
    • (Description of B in General Formula (II))
  • B is a structure represented by any one of the following general formulae (XVI) to (XVIV) and (XVII′)
  • Figure US20110236310A1-20110929-C00014
  • Each structure will hereinafter be described in detail.
    • Description of General Formula (XVI)
  • In the general formula (XVI), R54 is a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group, an aralkyl group, an alkenyl group, an aryl group, a heterocyclic group or an acyl group. R55 to R58 are, independently of one another, a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group, an aryl group, a carboxyl group, a carboxylate group or an acyl group, and R55 and R57 may bond to each other to form a ring. R59 is a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group, an alkoxy group or a halogen atom.
  • No particular limitation is imposed on the alkyl group in R54, R55 to R58, and R59. However, examples thereof include linear, branched or cyclic alkyl groups having 1 to 20 carbon atoms, such as methyl, ethyl, propyl, butyl, pentyl, hexyl, octyl, nonyl, decyl, undecyl, dodecyl, tridecyl, tetradecyl, pentadecyl, hexadecyl, heptadecyl, octadecyl, nonadecyl, cyclopropyl, cyclobutyl and cyclopentyl groups.
  • No particular limitation is imposed on the aralkyl group in R54. However, examples thereof include benzyl and phenethyl groups.
  • No particular limitation is imposed on the alkenyl groups in R54. However, examples thereof include alkenyl groups having 2 to 20 carbon atoms, such as vinyl, 2,2-diphenylvinyl, 3-butenyl and cyclohexenyl groups.
  • No particular limitation is imposed on the aryl group in R54, and R55 to R58. However, examples thereof include 6- to 14-membered monocyclic or polycyclic aryl groups such as phenyl, naphthyl, phenanthryl and anthracenyl groups.
  • No particular limitation is imposed on the heterocyclic group in R54. However, examples thereof include 4- to 10-membered monocyclic or bicyclic heterocyclic groups containing 1 to 4 atoms selected from nitrogen, oxygen and sulfur. Examples of these groups include pyridyl, pyrazinyl, pyrimidinyl, pyrrolyl, thienyl, furyl, pyranyl, oxazolyl, thiazolyl, triazolyl, tetrazolyl, imidazolyl, pyrazolyl, morpholinyl, thiomorpholinyl, piperidinyl, piperazinyl, quinolyl, isoquinolyl, indolyl, isoindolyl, benzofuryl and benzothienyl groups.
  • No particular limitation is imposed on the acyl group in R54, and R55 to R58. However, examples thereof include acetyl, propionyl, butyryl, pentanoyl, benzoyl, 1-naphthoyl and 2-naphthoyl groups.
  • R54, and R55 to R58 may additionally have substituent(s), and no particular limitation is imposed on the substituent(s) so far as the storage stability of the staining compound is not markedly impaired. Examples thereof include substituents described as “favorable examples of additional substituents” above.
  • The groups favorably have a substituent having such a nature that the water solubility is improved, among these substituents. Particularly favorable examples of such a substituent include carboxyl, sulfonic, polyethylene glycol, carboxylate and sulfonate groups though not limited thereto.
  • R54, and R55 to R58 may be selected independently of one another and arbitrarily from the substituents mentioned above. However, as a favorable mode, the aralkyl, alkenyl or aryl group is favorable because the fluorescence intensity of the resulting compound becomes strong. Favorable specific examples thereof include phenyl, bromophenyl, benzyl, bromobenzyl, methylthiophenyl, methoxyphenyl, methoxynaphthyl, benzylphenyl, 2,2-diphenylvinyl and 2,2-diphenylvinylphenyl groups. More favorable examples thereof include phenyl, bromophenyl, benzyl, methylthiophenyl, methoxyphenyl and methoxynaphthyl groups, with the methylthiophenyl group being particularly favorable because a tendency for a Stokes shift (a difference between maximum excitation wavelength and maximum fluorescence wavelength) to remarkably become large is recognized.
  • No particular limitation is imposed on the carboxylate group in R55 to R58. However, examples thereof include methyl carboxylate, ethyl carboxylate, propyl carboxylate and butyl carboxylate groups.
  • No particular limitation is imposed on the ring formed by bonding R55 and R57 to each other. However, examples thereof include saturated aliphatic rings such as cyclooctane, cycloheptane, cyclohexane, cyclopentane and cyclobutane rings; and partially saturated aliphatic rings such as cyclopentene and cyclohexene rings. These rings may additionally have substituent(s), and no particular limitation is imposed on the substituent(s) so far as the storage stability of the staining compound is not markedly impaired. Examples thereof include substituents described as “favorable examples of additional substituents” above.
  • The ring favorably has a substituent having such a nature that the water solubility is improved, among these substituents. Particularly favorable examples of such a substituent include carboxyl, sulfonic, polyethylene glycol, carboxylate and sulfonate groups though not limited thereto.
  • It is favorable that R55 to R58 are, independently of each other, a hydrogen atom, alkyl group or aryl group, and R55 and R57 bond to each other to form a ring. It is more favorable that R55 and R57 bond to each other to form a ring, since the resulting compound becomes stable in chemical structure. Specific examples of the ring include cyclooctane, cycloheptane, cyclohexane, cyclopentane and cyclobutane rings, and the cyclopentane ring is more favorable from the viewpoint of storage stability.
  • No particular limitation is imposed on the alkoxy group in R59. However, examples thereof include alkoxy groups having 1 to 20 carbon atoms, such as methoxy, ethoxy, propoxy, butoxy, pentyloxy, hexyloxy, heptyloxy, octyloxy, nonyloxy, decyloxy, dodecyloxy and octadecyloxy groups.
  • Examples of the halogen atom in R59 include fluorine, chlorine, bromine and iodine atoms.
  • R59 is favorably a hydrogen atom, a halogen atom or an alkoxy group, with the hydrogen or halogen atom being more favorable.
    • Description of General Formula (XVII)
  • In the general formula (XVII), R60 is a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group or an aryl group. R61 to R64 are, independently of one another, a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group, an aryl group, an alkoxy group, a carboxyl group, a sulfonic group, a heterocyclic group, an amino group or a halogen atom. R61 and R62, R62 and R63, or R63 and R64 may bond to each other to form a ring.
  • No particular limitation is imposed on the alkyl group in R60, and R61 to R64. However, examples thereof include linear, branched or cyclic alkyl groups having 1 to 20 carbon atoms, such as methyl, ethyl, propyl, butyl, pentyl, hexyl, octyl, nonyl, decyl, undecyl, dodecyl, tridecyl, tetradecyl, pentadecyl, hexadecyl, heptadecyl, octadecyl, nonadecyl, cyclopropyl, cyclobutyl and cyclopentyl groups.
  • No particular limitation is imposed on the aryl group in R60, and R61 to R64. However, examples thereof include 6- to 14-membered monocyclic or polycyclic aryl groups such as phenyl, naphthyl, phenanthryl and anthracenyl groups.
  • R60 may additionally have substituent(s), and no particular limitation is imposed on the substituent(s) so far as the storage stability of the staining compound is not markedly impaired. Examples thereof include substituents described as “favorable examples of additional substituents” above.
  • The group favorably has a substituent having such a nature that the water solubility is improved, among these substituents. Particularly favorable examples of such a substituent include carboxyl, sulfonic, polyethylene glycol, carboxylate and sulfonate groups though not limited thereto.
  • R60 is favorably an alkyl group, and it is favorable that the alkyl group additionally has a substituent such as a carboxyl, sulfonic, polyethylene glycol, carboxylate or sulfonate group, since the water solubility of the resulting compound is increased, and the fluorescence intensity thereof is also increased.
  • No particular limitation is imposed on the alkoxy group in R61 to R64. However, examples thereof include alkoxy groups having 1 to 20 carbon atoms, such as methoxy, ethoxy, propoxy, butoxy, pentyloxy, hexyloxy, heptyloxy, octyloxy, nonyloxy, decyloxy, dodecyloxy and octadecyloxy groups.
  • No particular limitation is imposed on the heterocyclic group in R61 to R64. However, examples thereof include 4- to 10-membered monocyclic or bicyclic heterocyclic groups containing 1 to 4 atoms selected from nitrogen, oxygen and sulfur. Examples of these groups include pyridyl, pyrazinyl, pyrimidinyl, pyrrolyl, thienyl, furyl, pyranyl, oxazolyl, thiazolyl, triazolyl, tetrazolyl, imidazolyl, pyrazolyl, morpholinyl, thiomorpholinyl, piperidinyl, piperazinyl, quinolyl, isoquinolyl, indolyl, isoindolyl, benzofuryl and benzothienyl groups.
  • No particular limitation is imposed on the amino group in R61 to R64. However, examples thereof include an unsubstituted amino group; mono-substituted amino groups such as N-methylamino, N-butylamino, N-hexylamino, N-tetradecylamino, N-phenylamino and N-naphthylamino groups; di-substituted amino groups such as N,N-dimethylamino, N,N-diethylamino, N,N-diphenylamino and N,N-methylpropylamino groups; carbonylamino groups such as acetylamino, ethylcarbonylamino, tert-butylcarbonylamino, benzoylamino, naphthoylamino and methoxycarbonylamino groups; and sulfonylamino groups such methylsulfonylamino, ethylsulfonylamino, tert-butylsulfonylamino and isopropoxysulfonylamino groups.
  • Examples of the halogen atom in R61 to R64 include fluorine, chlorine, bromine and iodine atoms.
  • R61 to R64 are each favorably a hydrogen atom, a carboxyl group, a sulfonic group, an amino group or a halogen atom, and a hydrogen atom or a sulfonic group is particularly favorable because the water solubility of the resulting compound is improved.
  • No particular limitation is imposed on the ring formed by bonding R61 and R62, R62 and R63, or R63 and R64 to each other. However, examples thereof include aromatic rings having 3 to 10 carbon atoms, such as benzene and naphthalene rings; saturated rings such as cyclooctane, cycloheptane, cyclohexane, cyclopentane and cyclobutane rings; partially saturated rings such as cyclopentene and cyclohexene rings; and heterocycles such as pyridine and pyrimidine rings. The ring may additionally have substituent(s), and no particular limitation is imposed on the substituent(s) so far as the storage stability of the staining compound is not markedly impaired. Examples thereof include substituents described as “favorable examples of additional substituents” above.
  • The ring favorably has a substituent having such a nature that the water solubility is improved, among these substituents. Particularly favorable examples of such a substituent include carboxyl, sulfonic, polyethylene glycol, carboxylate and sulfonate groups though not limited thereto.
  • The ring formed by bonding R61 and R62, R62 and R63, or R63 and R64 to each other is favorably a benzene ring because the storage stability of the resulting compound is improved.
    • Description of Q3 in General Formula (XVII)
  • In the general formula (XVII), Q3 is a sulfur atom, an oxygen atom, —C(R65)(R66)— or —CH═CH—, in which R65 and R66 bond to each other to form a ring.
  • Examples of the ring formed by bonding R65 and R66 in Q3 to each other include cyclohexane, piperidine and piperidinium rings.
  • Q3 is favorably a sulfur atom, oxygen atom or —C(R65)(R66)—, and particularly favorably an oxygen atom or sulfur atom.
  • It is also favorable that Q3 is —C(CH2)5—, since the staining ability of the compound becomes excellent.
    • Description of General Formula (XVII′)
  • Figure US20110236310A1-20110929-C00015
  • In the general formula (XVII′), R60′ is a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group or an aryl group, Q3′ is a sulfur atom or an oxygen atom. Dotted lines in the general formula (XVII′) represent the case where a benzene ring is present or absent.
  • No particular limitation is imposed on the alkyl group in R60′. However, examples thereof include linear, branched or cyclic alkyl groups having 1 to 20 carbon atoms, such as methyl, ethyl, propyl, butyl, pentyl, hexyl, octyl, nonyl, decyl, undecyl, dodecyl, tridecyl, tetradecyl, pentadecyl, hexadecyl, heptadecyl, octadecyl, nonadecyl, cyclopropyl, cyclobutyl and cyclopentyl groups.
  • No particular limitation is imposed on the aryl group in R60′. However, examples thereof include 6- to 14-membered monocyclic or polycyclic aryl groups such as phenyl, naphthyl, phenanthryl and anthracenyl groups.
  • R60′ may additionally have substituent(s), and no particular limitation is imposed on the substituent(s) so far as the storage stability of the staining compound is not markedly impaired. Examples thereof include substituents described as “favorable examples of additional substituents” above.
  • The group favorably has a substituent having such a nature that the water solubility is improved, among these substituents. Particularly favorable examples of such a substituent include carboxyl, sulfonic, polyethylene glycol, carboxylate and sulfonate groups though not limited thereto.
  • R60′ is favorably an alkyl group, and it is favorable that the alkyl group additionally has a substituent such as a carboxyl, sulfonic, polyethylene glycol, carboxylate or sulfonate group, since the water solubility of the resulting compound is increased, and the fluorescence intensity thereof is also increased.
    • Description of General Formula (XVIII)
  • In the general formula (XVIII), R68 and R69 are, independently of each other, a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group or an aryl group. R70 is an oxygen atom or a sulfur atom.
  • No particular limitation is imposed on the alkyl group in R68 and R69. However, examples thereof include linear, branched or cyclic alkyl groups having 1 to 20 carbon atoms, such as methyl, ethyl, propyl, butyl, pentyl, hexyl, octyl, nonyl, decyl, undecyl, dodecyl, tridecyl, tetradecyl, pentadecyl, hexadecyl, heptadecyl, octadecyl, nonadecyl, cyclopropyl, cyclobutyl and cyclopentyl groups.
  • No particular limitation is imposed on the aryl group in R68 and R69. However, examples thereof include 6- to 14-membered monocyclic or polycyclic aryl groups such as phenyl, naphthyl, phenanthryl and anthracenyl groups.
  • R68 and R69 may additionally have substituent(s), and no particular limitation is imposed on the substituent(s) so far as the storage stability of the staining compound is not markedly impaired. Examples thereof include substituents described as “favorable examples of additional substituents” above.
  • The groups favorably have a substituent having such a nature that the water solubility is improved, among these substituents. Particularly favorable examples of such a substituent include carboxyl, sulfonic, polyethylene glycol, carboxylate and sulfonate groups though not limited thereto.
    • Description of General Formula (XVIV)
  • In the general formula (XVIV), R71 is an alkyl group.
  • No particular limitation is imposed on the alkyl group in R71. However, examples thereof include linear, branched or cyclic alkyl groups having 1 to 20 carbon atoms, such as methyl, ethyl, propyl, butyl, pentyl, hexyl, octyl, nonyl, decyl, undecyl, dodecyl, tridecyl, tetradecyl, pentadecyl, hexadecyl, heptadecyl, octadecyl, nonadecyl, cyclopropyl, cyclobutyl and cyclopentyl groups.
    • Description of General Formulae (I) to (XVIV), (VIII′), and (XVII′)
  • It is favorable that a compound of the general formulae (I) to (XVIV), (VIII′), and (XVII′) has at least one of carboxyl, sulfonic and polyethylene glycol groups, since the water solubility of the compound is improved. A salt of the carboxyl or sulfonic group is also usable in the present invention. No particular limitation is imposed on the salt of the carboxyl or sulfonic group. Specific examples thereof include alkali metal salts such as sodium and potassium salts; alkaline earth salts such as magnesium and calcium salts; amine salts such as ammonium, pyridinium, piperidinium and triethylammonium salts; and amino acid salts such as tryptophan, lysine, leucine, phenylalanine, valine and arginine salts. Favorable examples thereof include sodium, potassium, ammonium, pyridinium and piperidinium salts.
    • SYNTHETIC EXAMPLES
  • The staining compound s according to the present invention, which are represented by any one of the general formulae (I) to (XVIV), (VIII′), and (XVII′), may be commercially available and can be obtained with ease. The compounds can also be easily synthesized according to publicly known respective processes. For example, a staining compound in which A in the general formula (I) is represented by the general formula (III) can be easily synthesized by referring to, for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2008-94897. A staining compound in which A in the general formula (I) is represented by the general formula (V) or (VII) can be synthesized according to the process described in, for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open 2001-315437. On the other hand, a staining compound in which B in the general formula (II) is represented by the general formula (XVI) can be easily synthesized by referring to, for example, Chem. Comm., Vol. 24, pp. 3036-3037 (2003).
  • An aspect about a production process of the staining compound in which A in the general formula (I) is represented by the general formula (III) will hereinafter be described, but the synthetic process is not limited thereto. An exemplary synthetic scheme will hereinafter be shown.
  • Figure US20110236310A1-20110929-C00016
  • R1, R2, and R6 to R11 in the above scheme have the same meanings as described above.
  • First, in Condensation (1) step, a compound (A) and an amine derivative are heated and condensed in the presence of a condensing agent (or in the absence of the condensing agent) in an organic solvent (or in the absence of a solvent) to obtain a compound (B). The compound (B) is then heated and condensed again with the above-described amine derivative. As a result, a staining compound (III) according to the present invention is obtained.
  • No particular limitation is imposed on a favorable organic solvent usable in the condensation reaction of the above-illustrated synthetic scheme so far as the solvent does not participate in the reaction in Condensation (1) step. However, for example, methanol, ethanol, n-propanol, isopropanol and n-butanol may be used either singly or in any combination thereof. No particular limitation is imposed on a favorable organic solvent usable in Condensation (2) step so far as the solvent does not participate in the reaction. However, examples thereof include ethylene glycol, N-methylpyrrolidone, N,N-dimethyl-acetamide, N,N-dimethylformamide, dimethyl sulfoxide, sulfolane, chlorobenzene, dichlorobenzene, trichlorobenzene and nitrobenzene.
  • The reaction in Condensation (1) step is conducted in a temperature range of from 0 to 200° C., favorably from 10 to 150° C., more favorably from 20 to 100° C. The reaction in Condensation (2) step is conducted in a temperature range of from 50 to 250° C., favorably from 100 to 230° C., more favorably from 150 to 220° C.
  • In the case of compounds in which R1 and R2, and R1′ and R2′ in the substituents of the amine derivatives to be reacted are the same substituents, the same amine derivatives may be used, so that the staining compound of the general formula (III) can be obtained through a one-stage condensation step. In this case, the reaction temperature follows the condition of Condensation (2) step.
  • No particular limitation is imposed on the condensing agent used in the condensation step so far as it does not participate in the reaction. However, the condensing agent may be chosen for use from, for example, magnesium oxide, zinc chloride and aluminum chloride.
  • The resultant staining compound (III) may be subjected to an ordinary isolation/purification process for organic compounds. For example, a reaction mixture is acidified with hydrochloric acid and subjected to aciding-out, thereby separating solids by filtration, and then subjected to neutralization with sodium hydroxide or the like and concentration, thereby obtaining a crude product. The crude product is further purified by recrystallization with acetone or methanol, column purification using silica gel, or the like. These methods may be used singly or in combination of two or more methods thereof to conduct purification, thereby obtaining the compound with higher purity.
  • Specific Exemplified Compounds (1) to (122) according to the present invention will be shown below. However, compounds according to the present invention are not limited thereto.
  • Figure US20110236310A1-20110929-C00017
    Figure US20110236310A1-20110929-C00018
    Figure US20110236310A1-20110929-C00019
    Figure US20110236310A1-20110929-C00020
    Figure US20110236310A1-20110929-C00021
    Figure US20110236310A1-20110929-C00022
    Figure US20110236310A1-20110929-C00023
    Figure US20110236310A1-20110929-C00024
    Figure US20110236310A1-20110929-C00025
    Figure US20110236310A1-20110929-C00026
    Figure US20110236310A1-20110929-C00027
    Figure US20110236310A1-20110929-C00028
    Figure US20110236310A1-20110929-C00029
    Figure US20110236310A1-20110929-C00030
    Figure US20110236310A1-20110929-C00031
    Figure US20110236310A1-20110929-C00032
    Figure US20110236310A1-20110929-C00033
    Figure US20110236310A1-20110929-C00034
    Figure US20110236310A1-20110929-C00035
    Figure US20110236310A1-20110929-C00036
    Figure US20110236310A1-20110929-C00037
    Figure US20110236310A1-20110929-C00038
    Figure US20110236310A1-20110929-C00039
    • <Radiation Labeling>
  • The labeling composition for the intraocular tissue according to the present invention may also be used as a probe labeled with a radioactive nuclide.
  • No particular limitation is imposed on the kind of the radioactive nuclide used in labeling, and it may be suitably selected according to the mode of use.
  • The labeling composition for the intraocular tissue labeled with the radioactive nuclide may be used in imaging by, for example, autoradiography, positron emission tomography (PET) using a positron emission nuclide, or single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) using various kinds of gamma-ray emission nuclides. Detection may also be made by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) making good use of an MR signal derived from a fluorine atomic nucleus, or 13C. In addition, imaging may also be conducted by a Compton camera (GREI) capable of coincidentally imaging a plurality of molecules as a next-generation molecular imaging apparatus. It may also be possible to quantify a probe for a retinal tissue using, for example, a liquid scintillation counter, X-ray film or imaging plate.
  • A labeling composition for the intraocular tissue labeled with a radioactive isotope such as 14C permits measuring a concentration in blood (or urine or feces) by an accelerator mass spectrometry (AMS) or the like to obtain pharmacokinetic information (area under the blood concentration-time curve (AUC), blood concentration half-life period (T1/2), maximum drug concentration (Cmax), maximum drug concentration time (Tmax), distribution volume, first-pass effect, biological utilization factor, excretion rates in feces and urine, etc.) of the parent compound and metabolite of the substance labeled.
  • No particular limitation is imposed on the radioactive nuclide, and it may be suitably selected according to the mode of use.
  • Specifically, in the case of measurement by PET, a 11C, 14C, 13N, 15O, 18F, 19F, 62Cu, 68Ga or 78Br may be used. 11C, 13N, 15O or 18F positron emission nuclide of, for example, is favorable, with 11C or 18F being particularly favorable.
  • In the case of measurement by SPECT, a γ-ray emission nuclide of, for example, 99mTc, 111In, 67Ga, 201Tl, 123I or 133Xe may be used. 99mTc or 123I is favorable.
  • In the case of measuring another animal than human, a radioactive nuclide longer in half-life period, such as, for example, 125I may be used.
  • In the case of measurement by GREI, for example, 131I, 85Sr or 65Zn may be used.
  • The radioactive nuclide may be either contained in or bonded to the compound represented by any one of the general formulae (I) to (XVIV), (VIII′), and (XVII′).
  • No particular limitation is imposed on the labeling method with the radioactive nuclide, and a generally used method may be used. At least part of the elements forming the compound represented by any one of the general formulae (I) to (XVIV), (VIII′), and (XVII′) may be substituted by the radioactive nuclide or bonded thereto.
  • When the compound represented by any one of the general formulae (I) to (XVIV), (VIII′), and (XVII′) is labeled with the radioactive nuclide, the compound favorably has a radioactivity of about 1 to 100 μCi per mM.
  • At this time, no particular limitation is imposed on the dose of the labeling composition for the intraocular tissue used, and it may be suitably selected according to the kind of the compound and the kind of the radioactive nuclide used in labeling.
    • <Preparation of Labeling Composition for Intraocular Tissue>
  • No particular limitation is imposed on the concentration of the compound contained in the labeling composition for the intraocular tissue according to the present invention so far as the intraocular tissue can be detected. However, the concentration may be suitably adjusted according to the target site and the compound used. The compound is used at a concentration of generally 0.001 ng/mL or more and 100 μg/mL or less, favorably 0.001 ng/mL or more and 10 μg/mL or less, more favorably 0.001 ng/mL or more and 5 μla/mL or less.
  • The labeling composition for the intraocular tissue according to the present invention is used by dissolving at least one of the staining compound s represented by any one of the general formulae (I) to (XVIV), (VIII′), and (XVII′) in a proper solvent. No particular limitation is imposed on the solvent so far as it does not affect a living body. However, an aqueous liquid high in affinity for the living body is favorable. Examples thereof include water; physiological saline; buffer solutions such as phosphate buffer solution (PBS) and Tris; alcoholic solvents such as methanol, ethanol, isopropanol, butanol, ethylene glycol and glycerol; organic solvents such as N,N-dimethyl sulfoxide (hereinafter abbreviated as DMSO) and N,N-dimethylformamide (hereinafter abbreviated as DMF); cell culture media such as D-MEM and HBSS; and infusions such as lactate Ringer solution. It is particularly favorable to contain at least 50% of water. These solvents may also be used in combination of two or more thereof.
  • No particular limitation is imposed on a preparation method of the labeling composition for the intraocular tissue according to the present invention. For example, the composition may be prepared by diluting a thick solution of the compound dissolved in such a solvent as described above. In the case where the water solubility of the compound is low, the compound may be dissolved in a proper solvent and then diluted with purified water to use it. The proper solvent is particularly favorably methanol, ethanol or DMSO.
  • If it is necessary to control the salt concentration or pH to be suitable for the living body, additives may be added to the labeling composition for the intraocular tissue according to the present invention either singly or in combination of two or more thereof.
  • No particular limitation is imposed on the additives used in the present invention so far as they do not affect the labeling composition for the intraocular tissue. However, examples thereof include humectants, surface tension adjustors, thickeners, salts such as sodium chloride, various kinds of pH adjustors, pH buffers, preservatives, antibacterial agents, sweetening agents, and perfume bases.
  • The pH adjustors favorably adjust the pH to be 5 to 9, and no particular limitation is imposed on the pH adjustors. However, examples thereof include hydrochloric acid, acetic acid, phosphoric acid, citric acid, malic acid, sodium hydroxide and sodium hydrogencarbonate.
    • <Testing Method>
  • The compound contained in the labeling composition for the intraocular tissue in the present invention is favorably a compound with a maximum luminance ratio (La/Lb) of 3 or more when the following testing method is performed. Details of the testing method for selecting the compound used in the present invention are described below.
  • An aqueous solution of a test compound is prepared to give a concentration of 1 μg/mL, and three Zebrafish 7-day-old embryos are exposed to the aqueous solution for one hour. Thereafter, the embryos are washed twice with purified water and immobilized with a 4% paraformaldehyde solution to provide immobilized sections a1 to a3 of one eyeball of the respective Zebrafishes. On the other hand, three untreated Zebrafish 7-day-old embryos are immobilized with a 4% paraformaldehyde solution to provide immobilized sections b1 to b3 of one eyeballs of the respective Zebrafishes. In this testing method, an immobilized section containing the entire layer structures of at least vitreous body and retina is used.
  • The immobilized sections a1 to a3 are used to adjust the magnification of an observation apparatus to a magnification capable of observing a retinal section of each eyeball, thereby setting the excitation wavelength and the fluorescence wavelength to those at which the fluorescence intensity in the retinal tissue becomes maximum. The magnification capable of observing the retinal section is not required to be strictly adjusted so far as the layer structures of the vitreous body and retina can be identified. However, the magnification is favorably such that the whole tissue section of the eye is included. Specifically, the structure of the retinal tissue can be visualized by setting the magnification to from 10 times to 400 times, favorably from 40 times to 200 times. On the other hand, the average value of maximum luminance values in arbitrarily-sized retinal regions between the retinal pigment epithelium and vitreous body of the immobilized sections b1 to b3 is regarded as Lb to set the intensity of excitation light and photographic sensitivity such that the value Lb falls within a range of from 2 to 6.
  • Under the thus-set observation conditions, the average value of maximum luminance values in arbitrarily-sized retinal regions between the retinal pigment epithelium and vitreous body of the immobilized sections a1 to a3 is regarded as La to calculate the value La/Lb.
  • No particular limitation is imposed on the strain of Zebrafishes used in this testing method. However, for example, a wild type having no genetic variation, or a strain having no genetic variation relating to eyes in particular is favorably used. Specifically, RIKEN WT (RW), AB strain or TU strain is favorably used.
  • The exposure to the solution of the test compound can be conducted by putting a Zebrafish 7-day-old embryo in an arbitrary well in, for example, a 24-well plate together with breeding water, and taking the breeding water out of the well to be replaced by the solution of the test compound, thereby bringing the solution into contact with the embryo. A method of adding a proper amount of a thick solution of the test compound to a Zebrafish embryo put in a well together with distilled water in such a manner that the final concentration is 1 μg/mL may also be used.
  • In general, the compound migrating to the intraocular tissue without damaging the ocular tissue or the nerve tissue linking to the ocular tissue can label the intraocular tissue by exposing the Zebrafish 7-day-old embryo to the solution of the test compound for 1 hour. No particular limitation is imposed on the observation of the intraocular tissue. However, for example, observation can be made by observing an immobilized section of an ocular tissue of Zebrafish, which has been exposed to the solution of the test compound.
  • No particular limitation is imposed on preparation of the immobilized section of an eyeball of Zebrafish. However, for example, the section can be prepared by embedding Zebrafish in a low-temperature fused agarose gel and slicing it by a commercially available microtome.
  • No particular limitation is imposed on the commercially available microtome so far as a section can be prepared. However, examples thereof include Vibratome and Linear Slicer. In particular, Linear Slicer is favorably used because a section is prepared more satisfactorily. The immobilized section prepared by such a microtome is placed on a slide glass to observe it.
  • It may also be possible to embed Zebrafish in a compound for a frozen tissue section, rapidly freeze it with liquid nitrogen, and then prepare a section by a cryostat microtome. No particular limitation is imposed on the cryostat microtome. However, a commercially available Cryostat may be favorably used. The frozen section prepared in such a manner is placed on a slide glass and then dried to observe it.
  • No particular limitation is imposed on the thickness of a section upon preparation of the section so far as the thickness is fixed upon testing. However, for example, a thickness of 5 μm or more is favorable because its morphology is easily kept upon its transfer to a slide glass.
  • The control to the excitation wavelength and fluorescence wavelength at which the fluorescence intensity in the retinal tissue becomes maximum can be made by changing the set of fluorescent light filters in such a manner that when a section sample exposed to an aqueous solution containing a test compound is observed, the sample is irradiated with excitation light of an arbitrary wavelength, and fluorescence of a wavelength longer by at least 10 nm or more, favorably 20 nm or more than the excitation wavelength is detected, the excitation light is scarcely visible and the fluorescence intensity becomes highest.
  • For the measurement of the maximum luminance value in the region including the retinal tissue, it is necessary to set the excitation wavelength and fluorescence wavelength of the observation apparatus according to the test compound used.
  • No particular limitation is imposed on the observation apparatus used so far as it permits fluorescence observation. However, examples thereof include a stereoscopic fluorescence microscope, a fluorescence microscope and a confocal laser-scanning fluorescence microscope.
  • In this testing method, an image containing the retinal region of the immobilized section b is obtained, and a maximum luminance value in an arbitrary region of the image thus obtained is measured.
  • The maximum luminance value is measured by means of a software or the like. It is favorable to measure the value by converting the image to a gray scale. No particular limitation is imposed on the software used in the measurement of the maximum luminance value so far as the maximum luminance value in the arbitrary region is determined. However, examples thereof may include NIH Image, Scion Image and Image J.
  • Such software is used to control the intensity of excitation light and photographic sensitivity in such a manner that the maximum luminance values of the immobilized sections b1 to b3 fall within a range of from 2 to 6, thereby obtaining the average value Lb of the maximum luminance values of the immobilized sections b1 to b3.
  • An image containing the retinal region of each of the immobilized sections a1 to a3 is then obtained under the conditions set above, whereby the average value La of the maximum luminance values of the immobilized sections a1 to a3 can be obtained in the same manner as described above.
  • The compound contained in the labeling composition for intraocular tissue according to the present invention is favorably such that the ratio (La/Lb) of La to Lb obtained in the above-described testing method is 3 or more. The compound that the ratio La/Lb is 3 or more can clearly label the intraocular tissue without damaging the ocular tissue or the nerve tissue linking to the ocular tissue. The ratio La/Lb is favorably 5 or more, more favorably 10 or more, because the intraocular tissue is stained in a clearly distinguishable state even when the concentration of the compound is low.
    • <Labeling Method>
  • The labeling method for the intraocular tissue according to the present invention can be conducted by using the labeling composition for the intraocular tissue containing at least one of the staining compound s represented by any one of the general formulae (I) to (XVIV), (VIII′), and (XVII′). The method for labeling the intraocular tissue of a living individual is to label with the labeling composition without causing a surgical damage such as incision of an ocular tissue or needling into the ocular tissue or a nerve tissue linking to the ocular tissue.
  • No particular limitation is imposed on the labeling method without the surgical damage. However, examples thereof include a method of exposing a part or the whole of a living individual to the labeling composition for the intraocular tissue, a method by oral contact, a method by pneumonic contact, a method by nasal contact, a method by transgastrointestinal contact, a method by transmucosal contact, a method by transhumoral contact, a method by hypoglossal contact, a method by intravascular contact such as intravenous or intra-arterial contact, a method by intra-abdominal contact, an intra-abdominal, subcutaneous, intracutaneous, intravesical or endotracheal (intrabronchial) injection method, and a method by contact with the interior of a living body by a device such as spraying or coating.
  • The labeling composition for the intraocular tissue according to the present invention may also be injected directly into an eye to label the intraocular tissue. No particular limitation is imposed on the method of injecting directly into the eye. However, for example, the method is performed by making a hole by sclerotomy, filling a posterior portion of a vitreous body with air and then injecting several drops, generally 1 mL or less, of the labeling composition for the intraocular tissue according to the present invention into the eye.
    • <Observing Method>
  • The observing method of the present invention uses the labeling composition for the intraocular tissue according to the present invention. The measuring and detecting methods thereof are performed by methods publicly known by a person with ordinary skill in the art.
  • No particular limitation is imposed on the observing method used in the present invention so far as the intraocular tissue is not affected. The method is a method for capturing the condition and change of a living sample as images. Examples thereof include visible light observation, near-infrared light observation and infrared light observation performed by irradiating an ocular tissue with visible light, near-infrared light and infrared light, respectively, and observing the ocular tissue by a camera or CCD; laser microscope observation; fluorescence observation, fluorescence microscope observation, fluorescence endoscope observation, confocal microscope observation, multiple photon-excited fluorescence microscope observation, and narrow-band light observation performed by irradiating a living sample with excitation light from an excitation light source like a fluorescence endoscope to observe fluorescence of the living sample causing emission; optical coherence tomographic (OCT) observation; and observation by a soft X-ray microscope.
  • No particular limitation is imposed on the wavelength for excitation used in the present invention. However, it varies according to the staining compound represented by any one of the general formulae (I) to (XVIV), (VIII′), and (XVII′), and no particular limitation is imposed thereon so far as the staining compound represented by any one of the general formulae (I) to (XVIV), (VIII′), and (XVII′) efficiently emits fluorescence. The wavelength is generally from 200 to 1,010 nm, favorably from 400 to 900 nm, more favorably from 480 to 800 nm. In the case of using light in a near-infrared region, a wavelength of generally from 600 to 1,000 nm, favorably from 680 to 900 nm, is used.
  • No particular limitation is imposed on the light source for fluorescence excitation used in the present invention. However, various kinds of laser beam sources may be used. Examples thereof include dye lasers, semiconductor lasers, ion lasers, fiber lasers, halogen lamps, xenon lamps and tungsten lamps. Various kinds of optical filters may be used to obtain a favorable wavelength for excitation or to detect fluorescence alone.
  • When an intraocular tissue is imaged in a state of causing emission in the interior of an ocular tissue by irradiating a living individual with excitation light in the above-described manner, an emitting site can be easily detected. The intraocular tissue can be observed in more detail by combining a bright field image obtained by irradiation of visible light with a fluorescent image obtained by irradiation of excitation light by an image processing unit.
    • <Screening Method>
  • According to the labeling composition for the intraocular tissue according to the present invention, general characteristics with respect to staining of an intraocular tissue can be screened in a living state, i.e., in vivo, by using a living individual, for example, Zebrafish that is a small bony fish. In addition, since Zebrafish that is a living individual is used, the safety of the labeling composition for the intraocular tissue may also be screened at the same time.
  • Zebrafish has been acknowledged as the third model animal following mouse and rat in the United States and Britain in recent years, and it has been found that compared with human the whole genome sequence thereof has 80% homology, the number of genes is also almost the same, and the geneses and structures of the main organs and tissues are also well similar. The Zebrafish is characterized in that the processes of differentiating from a fertilized ovum to form respective parts (viscera and organs such as heart, liver, kidney and alimentary canal) can be observed through a transparent body, so that it is particularly favorable to use Zebrafish in screening as a model animal.
  • As a specific example, is mentioned such a screening method that the labeling composition for the intraocular tissue is brought into contact with Zebrafish to observe an influence of the labeling composition for the intraocular tissue on Zebrafish.
  • No particular limitation is imposed on the method for bringing Zebrafish into contact. However, examples thereof include a method of administering the labeling composition for the intraocular tissue into breeding water in the case where the labeling composition for the intraocular tissue is water-soluble, and include, in the case where the labeling composition for the intraocular tissue is water-insoluble, a method of dispersing the labeling composition for the intraocular tissue in breeding water by itself, a method of administering the composition together with a trace quantity of a surfactant or DMSO, a method of mixing the composition with a feed for Zebrafish to orally administering it, and a method of parenterally administering the composition by injection or the like. The method of administering the labeling composition for the intraocular tissue into breeding water is favorable because of its easiness. Thus, the staining compound represented by any one of the general formulae (I) to (XVIV), (VIII′), and (XVII′) is desirably water-soluble, and a carboxyl group or sulfonic is desirably contained in the compound.
  • One or more labeling compositions for the intraocular tissue according to the present invention can be utilized as active agents to conduct in vivo screening for influence on a living body, such as effects, side effects or safety of a chemical substance in an intraocular tissue, using a living individual, for example, Zebrafish. The labeling compositions for the intraocular tissue can be selected as needed according to target sites, objects, inspection methods and/or the like. In addition, applied developments such as high-precision diagnoses of diseases and development of curing methods are expected from the staining ability of the labeling composition for the intraocular tissue, and so this composition may be used as a diagnostic composition.
  • The chemical substance means a generic name of a compound having chemical action and is not particularly limited. However, examples thereof include pharmaceuticals, organic compounds, curing medicines, investigational drugs, agricultural chemicals, cosmetics, environmental pollutants and endocrine disruptors.
  • Zebrafish is not limited to wild type Zebrafish, and Zebrafishes of various disease type models may be used according to the object of screening. In the case of using a disease type model, the effects of a proposed new medicine compound can be found by observation to apply them to conduct screening of a disease curing or preventing medicine.
  • The screening method according to the present invention can use small bony fishes. No particular limitation is imposed on the small bony fishes used in the screening method according to the present invention. However, examples thereof include Zebrafish, globefish, goldfish, killifish and giant rerio. The small bony fishes are favorably used because they are excellent in speed and cost compared with mouse and rat. In particular, Zebrafish is favorable because decoding of genome has been almost completed, its breeding and propagation are easy, circulation cost is also cheap, and the basic structures of main organs and tissues are formed in 48 to 72 hours after fertilization.
  • The labeling composition for the intraocular tissue according to the present invention can be used in measures for specifically and selectively labeling, for example, a diseased cellular tissue at ophthalmic surgery or a site of a test substance suspected to be a tumor, thereby ascertaining a difference from normal cells, or in observation of a change of a tissue by a disease.
  • The labeling composition for the intraocular tissue according to the present invention can specifically label an intraocular tissue of a living individual without need of an invasive operation such as exposure of an ocular tissue or injection of a staining agent into the ocular tissue or a nerve tissue linking to the ocular tissue. Accordingly, the composition can be applied to a diagnostic agent making good use of these identification abilities.
  • No particular limitation is imposed on the diagnostic agent, and the composition can be used as, for example, a diagnostic agent for inspecting the functions of the eyes and a diagnostic agent of ophthalmic diseases.
    • <Extrapolability to Human>
  • The labeling composition for the intraocular tissue according to the present invention may also be applied to human. The extrapolability to human is confirmed by overall approximation in recognition of analogy and points of difference of intraocular tissues between human and a laboratory animal. Examples are given below though not limited thereto.
  • 1. Intraocular tissues of human and another living sample than human are labeled to confirm analogy therebetween. Examples of other living samples than human include mammals such as mouse, hamster, rat, guinea pig, rabbit, dog, pig, cat and monkey; and bony fishes such as Zebrafish.
  • 2. An immobilized tissue section of said another living sample than human is used to confirm staining characteristics of intraocular tissues.
  • 3. An immobilized tissue section of human is used to confirm staining characteristics of intraocular tissues.
  • By confirming the above 3 points, it can be confirmed that the labeling composition for the intraocular tissue according to the present invention may also be applied to human.
  • As another method for confirming the extrapolability to human, it can be confirmed by radiolabeling the labeling composition for the intraocular tissue according to the present invention, administering a trace quantity of the labeled composition into a body of human and confirming localization of the compound in an intraocular tissue. This method is called a microdosing test.
  • As another method, there is a method of identifying and confirming the following 4 points.
  • 1. A target biomolecule or labeling mechanism of the labeling composition for the intraocular tissue according to the present invention is identified in an intraocular tissue of another living sample than human.
  • 2. A human biomolecule or labeling mechanism homologous to said target biomolecule or labeling mechanism is identified.
  • 3. Said human biomolecule or staining mechanism is introduced into another laboratory animal than human by a genetic modification.
  • 4. The thus-obtained laboratory animal is used to confirm the fact that staining is made through the biomolecule or staining mechanism introduced.
  • As another living sample than human, Zebrafish may be particularly favorably used. Eyes are very well preserved anatomically, histologically and biochemically among many vertebrate animals, and the same applies to the genesis. The retina of Zebrafish is made up of 7 main cell types like many presently existing vertebrate animals (Progress in Retinal and Eye Research, 27, pp. 89-110 (2008)), and comparison of retinal tissue section images between human and Zebrafish shows very high commonality though different in scale (Current Opinion in Pharmacology, 4, 504-512 (2004)). The use of Zebrafish has high advantage of low breeding cost and small amount of the compound used compared with mouse. In addition, commonality of not only the morphology, but also the base sequence of rhodopsin that is a visual pigment is somewhat higher than mouse, thus indicating high homology to human at molecular levels. Rodent is nocturnal, while Zebrafish is diurnal and has various cone cells in addition to rod cells at the retina, so that human and Zebrafish have high homology both histologically and functionally. From the above, it is favorable that Zebrafish is used to confirm the extrapolability of the labeling composition for the intraocular tissue according to the present invention to human.
    • EXAMPLES
  • The present invention will hereinafter be described in more detail by the following Examples. These Examples are specific examples shown for understanding more deeply the present invention, and the present invention is by no means limited to these specific examples. Incidentally, “%” is based on mass unless expressly noted.
    • Staining of Intraocular Tissue by Labeling Composition for Intraocular Tissue Example 1
  • Distilled water was added to a 1 mg/mL DMSO solution of Staining compound 1 to obtain Staining Liquid 1 containing Staining compound 1 at a concentration of 1 μg/mL. In an arbitrary well of a 24-well multiplate (product of IWAKI), were put 1 mL of Staining Liquid 1 and a fry of Zebrafish 7-day-old embryo (7 dpf), and the plate was left to stand for 1 hour. A process of removing Staining Liquid 1 in the well and replacing it by 1 mL of distilled water was then performed 3 times. Further, 1 mL of a phosphate buffer solution containing 4% paraformaldehyde was added, and the plate was left to stand for 1 hour. The fry was then taken out of the well and embedded in a 5% low-temperature fused agarose gel to prepare a section of an ocular tissue using Linear Slicer PRO 7 (manufactured by Dosaka EM Co., Ltd.). The thus-prepared ocular tissue section was placed on a slide glass to observe the ocular tissue through a confocal microscope (Pascal Exciter, manufactured by Zeiss Co.).
    • Examples 2 to 106
  • Sections were prepared by the same process as in Example 1 except that Staining compound 1 in Example 1 was changed to staining compound s described in Table 1, and observed.
    • Comparative Examples 1 to 3
  • Sections were prepared by the same process as in Example 1 except that Staining compound 1 in Example 1 was not used or changed to indocyanine green (ICG) or fluorescein (FLU) as described in Table 1, and observed.
    • Evaluation of Intraocular Tissue-Staining Ability
  • Regarding Examples 1 to 106, and Comparative Examples 1 to 3, staining ability (+++: intraocular tissue including photoreceptor cell layer being strongly stained; ++: photoreceptor cell layer being stained; −: not stained), and stained sites (1: layer structure including photoreceptor cell layer in retinal tissue being visualized by 1 to 5 layers thereof; 2: retinal tissue being wholly visualized; 3: L: vitreous body being stained) were evaluated.
  • The results thereof are shown in Table 1. Incidentally, the excitation wavelengths and fluorescence wavelengths of the staining compound s in Examples 1 to 106 were determined by subjecting an aqueous solution obtained by diluting a 10 mg/mL DMSO solution to 1/500 with purified water to measurement using a fluorescence spectrometer FL4500 (manufactured by Hitachi High-Technologies Corporation). Regarding the staining compound s in Examples 95 to 106, values in a chloroform solution are shown.
  • TABLE 1
    Staining Stained
    Compound No. λex λem ability site
    Ex. No.
    1 1 599 619 ++ 2
    2 2 486 553 +++ 2
    3 3 480 556 ++ 2
    4 4 473 560 ++ 1
    5 5 556 577 +++ 2, L
    6 6 555 576 ++ 2, L
    7 7 469 555 ++ 2, L
    8 8 477 592 ++ 2
    9 9 464 514 ++ 1
    10 10 459 520 ++ 1
    11 11 422 476 +++ 2, L
    12 12 463 509 ++ 2, L
    13 13 472 504 +++ 2
    14 14 588 617 ++ 2, L
    15 15 496 569 +++ 2, L
    16 17 459 564 ++ 1
    17 19 545 576 ++ 1
    18 20 555 567 ++ 1
    19 21 334 377 ++ 2, L
    20 22 571 620 ++ 1
    21 24 609 692 ++ 1
    22 25 635 671 ++ 1
    23 26 679 715 ++ 2
    24 27 485 575 ++ 1
    25 29 474 509 ++ 1, L
    26 30 353 481 ++ 1
    27 31 495 664 ++ 2
    28 32 558 640 ++ 2, L
    29 33 512 628 ++ 1, L
    30 34 571 648 ++ 2, L
    31 35 535 655 ++ 2
    32 36 566 661 +++ 1
    33 37 531 633 +++ 1
    34 38 482 609 ++ 1
    35 39 576 657 ++ 1
    36 40 559 671 ++ 1
    37 41 582 679 ++ 1
    38 44 564 651 ++ 1
    39 45 481 586 ++ 1
    40 47 522 611 ++ 1
    41 48 541 619 ++ 2
    42 49 569 649 ++ 1
    43 50 482 580 ++ 1
    44 51 580 638 ++ 2
    45 52 580 638 ++ 1
    46 53 568 712 ++ 1
    47 54 597 647 ++ 2
    48 55 502 644 ++ 1
    49 56 486 606 ++ 2
    50 57 590 671 ++ 2
    51 58 546 676 ++ 2
    52 59 581 625 ++ 1
    53 60 560 677 ++ 2
    54 61 545 636 ++ 2, L
    55 62 610 675 ++ 2
    56 63 566 611 ++ 1
    57 64 401 516 ++ 2
    58 65 570 657 ++ 1
    59 66 527 636 +++ 2
    60 67 570 699 +++ 2
    61 68 450 527 ++ 2
    62 69 653 609 ++ 1
    63 70 556 659 ++ 1
    64 71 592 671 ++ 2, L
    65 72 611 720 ++ 1
    66 73 548 649 ++ 1
    67 74 614 669 ++ 1
    68 75 619 683 ++ 1
    69 76 674 724 ++ 1
    70 77 583 668 ++ 1
    71 78 598 726 ++ 1
    72 79 567 702 ++ 1
    73 80 551 673 ++ 1
    74 81 576 604 ++ 2, L
    75 82 591 721 +++ 2
    76 83 605 682 ++ 2
    77 84 599 718 ++ 2
    78 85 353 503 ++ 2
    79 86 623 671 ++ 1
    80 87 466 551 ++ 2, L
    81 88 450 503 ++ 1
    82 90 528 550 ++ 2, L
    83 95 509 578 ++ 2, L
    84 95 528 590 ++ 1
    85 97 530 680 ◯ 1
    86 98 510 690 ◯ 1
    87 100 430 600 ◯ 1
    88 101 560 760 ◯ 1
    89 102 590 700 ◯ 1
    90 103 520 640 ◯ 1
    91 106 510 650 ◯ 1
    92 107 380 490 ◯ 1
    93 108 530 680 ◯ 1
    94 109 540 630 ◯ 1
    95 110 538 614 ◯ 1
    96 111 527 589 ◯ 1
    97 112 513 568 ◯ 1
    98 113 514 575 ◯ 1
    99 114 513 568 ◯ 1
    100 115 540 614 ◯ 1
    101 116 537 584 ◯ 1
    102 117 538 581 ◯ 1
    103 118 540 634 ◯ 1
    104 120 537 609 ◯ 1
    105 121 537 609 ◯ 1
    106 122 534 582 ◯ 1
    Comp. Ex.
    No.
    1 Not used — —
    2 ICG 784 811 — —
    3 Fluorescein 494 521 — —
  • As apparent from Table 1, the labeling compositions for the intraocular tissue according to the present invention are excellent in fluorescence sensitivity and able to stain living intraocular tissues, so that the staining ability thereof is excellent. The stained sites varied according to the staining compound s used. Some of the compositions strongly stained the photoreceptor cell layer, while some of them exhibited staining ability to the whole retinal tissue. In addition, screening can be cheaply performed by using Zebrafish as a model animal.
    • In Vivo Intraocular Observation Example 107
  • Distilled water was added to a 1 mg/mL DMSO solution of Staining compound 5 so as to give a concentration of 1 μg/mL to obtain Staining Liquid 2. In an arbitrary well of a 24-well multiplate, were put 1 mL of Staining Liquid 2 and a fry of Zebrafish, and the plate was left to stand for 1 hour. A process of removing Staining Liquid 2 in the well and replacing it by 1 mL of distilled water was then performed 3 times.
  • The fry was then put in a 0.7% agarose solution and placed on a slide glass to observe the fundus of the fry through a confocal microscope.
    • Examples 108 to 119
  • Fundus of fry were observed according to the same process as in Example 107 except that the compound used in Example 107 was changed to compounds shown in Table 2.
    • Comparative Examples 4 to 6
  • Fundus of fry were observed according to the same process as in Example 107 except that the compound used in Example 107 was changed to compounds shown in Table 2.
    • Evaluation of In Vivo Intraocular Observation
  • Regarding Examples 107 to 119 and Comparative Examples 4 to 6, staining ability (+++: both photoreceptor cell layer and further inner layer structure of retina comprised of plural layers being stained; ++: only photoreceptor cell layer of retina comprised of plural layers being mainly stained; −: not observed) was evaluated.
  • The results thereof are shown in Table 2.
  • TABLE 2
    Ex. No. Compound No. Result of observation
    107 5 +++
    108 6 ++
    109 7 +++
    110 8 +++
    111 9 ++
    112 10 ++
    113 11 +++
    114 12 ++
    115 13 +++
    116 36 ++
    117 48 ++
    118 66 ++
    119 81 +++
  • Comp. Ex. No. Compound No. Result of observation
    4 Not used —
    5 ICG —
    6 Fluorescein —
  • In Examples 107 to 119, fluorescence was observed at the fundus of Zebrafish. Specifically, as illustrated in, for example, FIG. 4, it is understood that the labeling compositions for the intraocular tissue according to the present invention noninvasively migrate to the intraocular tissue to clearly image the intraocular tissue.
    • Example 120
  • After an eyeball of a fry of Zebrafish 7-day-old embryo (7 dpf) was immobilized with a PBS solution of 4% paraformaldehyde (PFA), the solution was replaced by a PBS solution of 30% sucrose, and the eyeball was embedded in an OCT compound (product of Tissue-Tek Co.) and frozen with liquid nitrogen. The frozen sample was sliced into a 7-μm section by Cryostat (Tissue•Tek Cryo 3, manufactured by Sakura Finetek Japan Co., Ltd.) and extended on a MAS-coated slide glass (product of MATSUNAMI GLASS IND., LTD) to obtain a tissue section slide of the Zebrafish eyeball. The slide glass was treated with a blocking solution (Blocking One, product of Nakarai Co.) for 30 minutes at room temperature, and an anti-Zpr-1 antibody (which stains red and green cone cells) diluted with PBS was mounted as a primary antibody on the slide glass and treated for 12 hours at 4° C. The slide glass was then washed 3 times with PBST for 10 minutes, and a secondary antibody (Alexa 488-anti-mouse IgG antibody) and 1 μg/mL of Compound 5 were diluted with PBS and mounted on the slide glass for 1 hour at room temperature. The slide glass was washed 3 times with PBST for 10 minutes, Fluoromount G (product of Southern Biotechnology Co.) was mounted thereon, and a cover glass was placed thereon. The thus-obtained stained slide of the tissue section of the Zebrafish eye ball was observed through a confocal microscope.
    • Example 121
  • A stained slide of a tissue section of a Zebrafish eye ball was prepared according to the same process as in Example 120 except that the primary antibody used in Example 120 was changed to an anti-Zpr-3 antibody (which stains rod cells), and observed through a confocal microscope.
    • Example 122
  • A stained slide of a tissue section of a human normal retina was prepared according to the same process as in Example 120 except that the tissue section slide of the Zebrafish eyeball was changed to a tissue section slide (product of US Biomax Co.) of the human normal retina, and the primary antibody and secondary antibody were changed to anti-mGluR5 antibody (which stains cone cells) and Alexa 488-anti-rabbit IgG antibody, respectively, and observed through a confocal microscope.
    • Evaluation of Stained Slide
  • In Example 120, the stained images with Compound 5 and anti-Zpr-1 antibody in the photoreceptor cell layer did not overlap (FIG. 5), but in Example 121, the stained images with Compound 5 and anti-Zpr-3 antibody in the photoreceptor cell layer partially overlapped. This fact indicates that Compound 5 has staining ability to the photoreceptor cell layer but does not stain the red and green cone cells in the photoreceptor cell layer, or non-stained portions exist in cell bodies existing in the photoreceptor cell layer. On the other hand, the result of Example 121 reveals that Compound 5 has stained the rod cells and at least one kind of cell type of blue or ultraviolet cone cells. From this fact, it was confirmed that Compound 5 selectively stains a part of the cell types in the photoreceptor cell layer or of the cell bodies existing in the photoreceptor cell layer.
  • In Example 122, it was confirmed that the photoreceptor cell layer common to the retina of Zebrafish in the frozen section of the human normal retina is stained. It was also confirmed that the stained site by the anti-mGluR5 antibody is different, and so a part of the cell types in the photoreceptor cell layer or of the cell bodies existing in the photoreceptor cell layer is selectively stained even in human. From the above results, it was confirmed that the retinas of human and Zebrafish are approximate in staining characteristics, and the labeling composition for the intraocular tissue according to the present invention is high in extrapolability to human.
    • Staining of Mouse Intraocular Tissue Example 123
  • Staining compound 81 was added to an equimolar amount of a NaOH solution so as to give a concentration of 10 mg/mL, and the resultant mixture was centrifuged for 5 minutes at 14 krpm to obtain a supernatant. To an abdominal cavity of a 3-month-old B10 mouse, was administered 0.2 mL of this supernatant at one time. After 1 hour, the thus-treated animal was sacrificed under anesthesia by diethyl ether, and an eyeball thereof was taken out. The eyeball taken was embedded in an OCT compound and frozen in isopentane chilled with liquid nitrogen. This eyeball was sliced into a thickness of about 5 μm in a cryostat chilled to −20° C., and this slice was placed on a slide glass and dried to prepare a section of an ocular tissue. The thus-prepared ocular tissue section was observed through a confocal microscope (Pascal Exciter, manufactured by Zeiss Co.). As a result, it was confirmed that Compound 81 has staining ability to the retina by administration to the abdominal cavity of the mouse.
    • Staining of Intraocular Tissue and Hair Cell
  • It was confirmed that the staining compound s used in Examples 15 to 20, 24, 53 to 58, 65, 67, 82, and 83 stain hair cells in vivo in addition to the effect of staining the intraocular tissues. In other words, it was found that the compound represented by Compound Nos. 15, 17, 19 to 22, 27, 60 to 65, 72, 74, 90, and 94 have an effect of coincidentally staining both intraocular tissues and hair cells.
    • INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY
  • The present invention provide labeling compositions for intraocular tissues, which can stain intraocular tissues of living samples and can image cell morphologies of the intraocular tissues with high sensitivity, so that the compositions become materials essential to researches in the ophthalmic field and ophthalmologic imaging techniques. In addition, evaluation with time becomes feasible in drug discovery relating to ophthalmic diseases, high-throughput and high-precision screening can be conducted at low cost, and development of new diagnosing methods and curing methods for diseases as well as ophthalmologic researches are significantly advanced. Thus, the present invention becomes an extremely effective platform technology from industrial and practical points of view.
  • The present invention is not limited to the above embodiments and various changes and modifications can be made within the spirit and scope of the present invention. Therefore to apprise the public of the scope of the present invention, the following claims are made.
  • This application claims the benefit of Japanese Patent Application No. 2008-330988, filed Dec. 25, 2008, which is hereby incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.

Claims (18)

1. A labeling composition for an intraocular tissue of a living individual, which comprises a compound capable of labeling at least a photoreceptor cell layer of a retina, wherein the compound is a staining compound having a structure represented by the following general formula (I) or general formula (II) as a partial structure thereof,
Figure US20110236310A1-20110929-C00040
wherein in the general formula (I), R1 and R2 are, independently of each other, a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group or an aryl group, R1 and R2 may bond to each other to form a ring, and A is a structure represented by any one of the following general formulae (III) to (IX) and (VIII′)
Figure US20110236310A1-20110929-C00041
wherein in the general formula (III), R6 is an aryl group, R7, R8, R10 and R11 are, independently of one another, a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group, an aryl group or a halogen atom, and R9 is an ammonium salt group having a counter anion, in the general formula (IV), R12 and R13 are, independently of each other, a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group, an aryl group or a heterocyclic group, and R14 to R16 are, independently of one another, a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group, an aryl group, a heterocyclic group, a halogen atom or an amino group, in the general formula (V), R17 and R18 are, independently of each other, a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group or an alkoxy group, R19 and R20 are, independently of each other, a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group, an alkoxy group, a hydroxyl group or a cyano group, R21 is a heterocyclic group or —CH═C(R22)(R23), R22 and R23 are, independently of each other, a hydrogen atom, a cyano group, a heterocyclic group, a carboxyl group or a carboxylate group, and R1 and R17, R2 and R18, and R22 and R23 may, independently of one another, bond to each other to form a ring, in the general formula (VI), R24 is a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group, an aryl group or a heterocyclic group, in the general formula (VII), R25 is an oxygen atom, a sulfur atom or N(R27), R26 is a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group, an alkoxy group or a sulfonic group, and R27 is a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group or an aryl group, in the general formula (VIII), R28 is a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group or an aryl group, in the general formula (VIII′), R28′ is a halogen atom, an alkoxy group or an aryloxy group, and in the general formula (IX), R29 is a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group or an aryl group; and wherein A is also a structure represented by the following general formula (X)
Figure US20110236310A1-20110929-C00042
wherein in the general formula (X), R31 and R32 are individually a sulfonic group or a salt thereof, and R33 and R34 are individually a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group, an alkoxy group or a halogen atom, with the proviso that R1 and R2 in the general formula (I) bond to each other to form one substituent group ═N—R30, and R30 is an aryl group or a heterocyclic group,
further wherein in the general formula (II), R3 and R4 are, independently of each other, a hydrogen atom, an alkenyl group, a cyano group, a carboxyl group, a carboxylate group, a sulfonic group, an acyl group or a heterocyclic group, R3 and R4 may bond to each other to form a ring, and R5 is a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group, an aryl group or a heterocyclic group, with the proviso that one of R3 and R4 is a hydrogen atom, and the other is a heterocyclic group represented by the following general formula (XI)
Figure US20110236310A1-20110929-C00043
wherein in the general formula (XI), R35 is an alkyl group or an aryl group, R36 to R39 are, independently of one another, a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group, an aryl group, an alkoxy group, a carboxyl group, a sulfonic group, a heterocyclic group, an amino group or a halogen atom, R36 and R37, R37 and R38, or R38 and R39 may bond to each other to form a ring, X− is an anionic group, and Q1 is a sulfur atom, oxygen atom, —C(R40)(R41)—, —CH═CH— or —N(R42)—, in which R40 to R42 are individually a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group or an aryl group, and R40 and R41 may bond to each other to form a ring, and wherein the ring formed by bonding R3 and R4 in the general formula (II) to each other is represented by any one of the following general formulae (XII), (XIII) and (XV)
Figure US20110236310A1-20110929-C00044
wherein in the general formula (XII), R43 is a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group, an aryl group or a heterocyclic group, and R44 is an alkyl group, an aryl group, a carboxyl group, a carboxylate group, a hydroxyl group or an amino group, in the general formula (XIII), Q2 is an oxygen atom, a sulfur atom or —N(R52)—, R45 is a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group, an aryl group or a heterocyclic group, R46 is a sulfur atom, an oxygen atom, ═NR53, a heterocyclic group or a dicyanomethylene group, and R52 and R53 are individually a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group, an aryl group or a heterocyclic group, and in the general formula (XV), R49 and R50 are, independently of each other, a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group or an aryl group, and R51 is an oxygen atom or a sulfur atom, and
B is a structure represented by any one of the following general formulae (XVI) to (XVIV) and (XVII′)
Figure US20110236310A1-20110929-C00045
wherein in the general formula (XVI), R54 is a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group, an aralkyl group, an alkenyl group, an aryl group, a heterocyclic group or an acyl group, R55 to R58 are, independently of one another, a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group, an aryl group, a carboxyl group, a carboxylate group or an acyl group, R55 and R57 may bond to each other to form a ring, and R59 is a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group, an alkoxy group or a halogen atom, in the general formula (XVII), R60 is a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group or an aryl group, R61 to R64 are, independently of one another, a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group, an aryl group, an alkoxy group, a carboxyl group, a sulfonic group, a heterocyclic group, an amino group or a halogen atom, R61 and R62, R62 and R63, or R63 and R64 may bond to each other to form a ring, and Q is a sulfur atom, an oxygen atom, —C(R65)(R66)— or —CH═CH—, in which R65 and R66 bond to each other to form a ring, in the general formula (XVII′), R60′ is a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group or an aryl group, Q3′ is a sulfur atom or an oxygen atom, and dotted lines in the general formula (XVII′) represent the case where a benzene ring is present or absent, in the general formula (XVIII), R68 and R69 are, independently of each other, a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group or an aryl group, and R70 is an oxygen atom or a sulfur atom, and in the general formula (XVIV), R71 is an alkyl group,
further wherein B and R5 may bond to each other to form a benzothiophen-3-one ring, and at that time, R3 and R4 bond to each other to form a benzothiophen-3-one ring.
2. The labeling composition for the intraocular tissue according to claim 1, wherein the intraocular tissue is a retinal tissue.
3. The labeling composition for the intraocular tissue according to claim 1, wherein the compound selectively labels at least one cell selected from the group consisting of rod cells, plural kinds of cone cells different in sensitivity to a wavelength region, and a part of the cell bodies of these cells.
4. The labeling composition for the intraocular tissue according to claim 1, which contains the compound at a concentration of 0.001 ng/mL or more and 100 μg/mL or less.
5. The labeling composition for the intraocular tissue according to claim 1, wherein the compound is a fluorescent compound.
6. A labeling composition for labeling an intraocular tissue of a living individual, which comprises a compound capable of labeling at least a photoreceptor cell layer of the retina.
7. The labeling composition for the intraocular tissue according to claim 1, wherein the compound is administered without causing a surgical damage to an ocular tissue or a nerve tissue linking to the ocular tissue to label the intraocular tissue.
8. A staining agent for an intraocular tissue, which comprises the labeling composition for the intraocular tissue according to claim 1.
9. A diagnostic composition comprising, as an active agent, the labeling composition for the intraocular tissue according to claim 1 or a staining agent for the intraocular tissue, which comprises the labeling composition for the intraocular tissue.
10. A staining method for an ocular tissue, which comprises a step of bringing the labeling composition for the intraocular tissue according to claim 1 or a staining agent for the intraocular tissue, which comprises the labeling composition for the intraocular tissue, into contact with the ocular tissue.
11. A multiple labeling method for an ocular tissue, which comprises using plural kinds of labeling compositions including at least one of the labeling composition for the intraocular tissue according to claim 1 and a staining agent for the intraocular tissue, which comprises the labeling composition for the intraocular tissue.
12. The multiple labeling method according to claim 11, wherein at least one of the plural kinds of labeling compositions contains at least one antibody.
13. An imaging method for an intraocular tissue by conducting labeling with the labeling method according to claim 10, which comprises a step of irradiating the intraocular tissue with excitation light to observe fluorescence.
14. An evaluating method for a condition of a retina, which comprises using the imaging method of the intraocular tissue according to claim 13.
15. A screening method comprising using a model animal labeled with the labeling composition for the intraocular tissue according to claim 1.
16. A screening method for a disease curing medicine or disease preventing medicine, which comprises the steps of administering a test substance to a model animal, administering the labeling composition for the intraocular tissue according to claim 1 to the model animal, and checking a labeled condition caused by the labeling composition for the intraocular tissue with respect to the intraocular tissue of the model animal.
17. The screening method according to claim 15, wherein the model animal is Zebrafish.
18. The screening method according to claim 15, wherein the model animal is mouse or rat.
US13/133,357 2008-12-25 2009-12-24 Labeling composition for intraocular tissue, labeling method of intraocular tissue, and screening method Abandoned US20110236310A1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (3)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
JP2008330988 2008-12-25
JP2008-330988 2008-12-25
PCT/JP2009/071865 WO2010074325A1 (en) 2008-12-25 2009-12-24 Labeling composition for intraocular tissue, labeling method of intraocular tissue, and screening method

Related Parent Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
PCT/JP2009/071865 A-371-Of-International WO2010074325A1 (en) 2008-12-25 2009-12-24 Labeling composition for intraocular tissue, labeling method of intraocular tissue, and screening method

Related Child Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
US14/601,480 Division US9764046B2 (en) 2008-12-25 2015-01-21 Labeling composition for intraocular tissue, labeling method of intraocular tissue, and screening method

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
US20110236310A1 true US20110236310A1 (en) 2011-09-29

Family

ID=42287915

Family Applications (2)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
US13/133,357 Abandoned US20110236310A1 (en) 2008-12-25 2009-12-24 Labeling composition for intraocular tissue, labeling method of intraocular tissue, and screening method
US14/601,480 Active 2030-03-11 US9764046B2 (en) 2008-12-25 2015-01-21 Labeling composition for intraocular tissue, labeling method of intraocular tissue, and screening method

Family Applications After (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
US14/601,480 Active 2030-03-11 US9764046B2 (en) 2008-12-25 2015-01-21 Labeling composition for intraocular tissue, labeling method of intraocular tissue, and screening method

Country Status (4)

Country Link
US (2) US20110236310A1 (en)
EP (1) EP2370110B1 (en)
JP (1) JP2010168369A (en)
WO (1) WO2010074325A1 (en)

Cited By (14)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US20110189096A1 (en) * 2009-12-25 2011-08-04 Canon Kabushiki Kaisha Central nervous system tissue-labeling composition, method for labeling central nervous system tissue, and screening method using central nervous system tissue-labeling composition
CN102634224A (en) * 2012-03-21 2012-08-15 大连理工大学 4-N substituted anthracene pyridone fluorescent dye and preparation method and application thereof
US20120229769A1 (en) * 2011-03-10 2012-09-13 Sony Corporation Fundus imaging apparatus and fundus imaging method
US20140017722A1 (en) * 2012-07-11 2014-01-16 Canon Kabushiki Kaisha Hematopoietic stem cell identification probe
US8926740B2 (en) 2011-07-27 2015-01-06 Canon Kabushiki Kaisha Pigment dispersion, and resist composition for color filter and ink composition each using the pigment dispersion
US8951340B2 (en) 2011-10-04 2015-02-10 Canon Kabushiki Kaisha Water-insoluble coloring matter compound, ink using the water-insoluble coloring matter compound, thermal transfer recording sheet and resist composition for color filter
US9649392B2 (en) 2009-12-25 2017-05-16 Canon Kabushiki Kaisha Central nervous system labelling composition for intranasal administration and labelling method and screening method using central nervous system labelling composition for intranasal administration
US9801960B2 (en) 2008-12-25 2017-10-31 Canon Kabushiki Kaisha Probe for a biological specimen and labelling method and screening method using the probe
US10041937B2 (en) 2013-05-30 2018-08-07 Canon Kabushiki Kaisha Macrophage identification agent, and identification method, sorting method, evaluation method, screening method and kit using the macrophage identifier agent
US10227337B2 (en) 2011-02-16 2019-03-12 Canon Kabushiki Kaisha Evaluation probe for central nervous system permeability, evaluation method for central nervous system permeability, and screening method using an evaluation probe for central nervous system permeability
CN111100627A (en) * 2019-12-20 2020-05-05 中国科学院化学研究所 Fluorescent probe and application thereof
CN111397998A (en) * 2020-04-26 2020-07-10 中烨(山东)检验检测有限公司 Staining solution for tissue cell section
US10907196B2 (en) 2016-12-22 2021-02-02 Illumina Cambridge Limited Coumarin compounds and their uses as fluorescent labels
CN114981649A (en) * 2019-12-23 2022-08-30 美国雅培糖尿病护理公司 Analyte sensor featuring low potential detection and sensing method

Families Citing this family (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JP2012165715A (en) * 2011-02-16 2012-09-06 Mie Univ Retinal degenerative disease model animal and method for producing the same
US20150079608A1 (en) * 2012-04-06 2015-03-19 Adtec, Inc. Method for detecting or quantifying analyte, kit for detecting or quantifying analyte, and test strip for lateral flow type chromatography method for detecting or quantifying analyte
US20150274715A1 (en) * 2012-10-26 2015-10-01 Canon Kabushiki Kaisha Cancer cell inhibitory drug and cancer stem-cell detection probe
ES2730398T3 (en) 2014-06-25 2019-11-11 Novartis Ag Compositions and procedures for vitreous visualization

Citations (11)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4366314A (en) * 1980-04-01 1982-12-28 Bayer Aktiengesellschaft Dimethine dyestuffs, their preparation and their use for dyeing synthetic and natural materials
US20030144247A1 (en) * 2000-04-03 2003-07-31 Mitsuaki Kuwano Transporters and drug delivery system using the same
US6696430B1 (en) * 1998-05-08 2004-02-24 Gerrit Reinold Jacob Melles Use of vital dye for facilitating surgical procedures for vitreo-retinal surgery
US6720314B1 (en) * 1998-05-08 2004-04-13 Gerrit Reinold J. Melles Use of a vital dye for facilitating surgical procedures for cataract extraction
US20040197268A1 (en) * 1999-06-10 2004-10-07 Augelli-Szafran Corinne Elizabeth Method of imaging amyloid deposits using substituted rhodanine derivatives
US20040256002A1 (en) * 2002-07-29 2004-12-23 Tamotsu Horiuchi Organic dye, photoelectric transducing material, semiconductor electrode, and photoelectric transducing device
US20080090914A1 (en) * 2004-12-06 2008-04-17 National University Corporation Kyushu University Staining Composition For Staining An Ophthalmic Membrane
US20080206149A1 (en) * 2005-06-17 2008-08-28 Ludwig-Maximilians-Universitat Munchen Method, dye and medicament for staining the internal limiting membrane, epiretinal membrane, the vitreous and/or the capsule of an eye
US20110182810A1 (en) * 2009-12-25 2011-07-28 Canon Kabushiki Kaisha Central nervous system labelling composition for intranasal administration and labelling method and screening method using central nervous system labelling composition for intranasal administration
US20110189096A1 (en) * 2009-12-25 2011-08-04 Canon Kabushiki Kaisha Central nervous system tissue-labeling composition, method for labeling central nervous system tissue, and screening method using central nervous system tissue-labeling composition
US20110243850A1 (en) * 2008-12-25 2011-10-06 Canon Kabushiki Kaisha Probe for a biological specimen and labelling method and screening method using the probe

Family Cites Families (11)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JPH0284390A (en) * 1988-09-21 1990-03-26 Hitachi Ltd Thermal transfer sheet
JP2813390B2 (en) * 1989-10-30 1998-10-22 ホーヤ株式会社 Eyeglass lens for lensectomy
JP3437757B2 (en) * 1998-03-18 2003-08-18 株式会社東芝 Liquid crystal display device and dichroic dye
JP4922824B2 (en) 2000-04-03 2012-04-25 参天製薬株式会社 Delivery substance and drug delivery system using the same
JP2001315437A (en) * 2000-05-10 2001-11-13 Nippon Kayaku Co Ltd Optical information recording medium
US7411008B2 (en) * 2001-11-07 2008-08-12 Novartis Ag Ink formulations and uses thereof
US8226236B2 (en) 2006-05-18 2012-07-24 University Of Rochester Method and apparatus for imaging in an eye
JP2008094897A (en) 2006-10-10 2008-04-24 Canon Inc Pigment compound, and ink containing the same
JP5105959B2 (en) * 2007-06-04 2012-12-26 キヤノン株式会社 Ink jet recording ink and ink jet recording unit using the same
US20150274715A1 (en) 2012-10-26 2015-10-01 Canon Kabushiki Kaisha Cancer cell inhibitory drug and cancer stem-cell detection probe
JP6384821B2 (en) 2012-10-26 2018-09-05 国立大学法人三重大学 Cancer cell inhibitor, probe for cancer stem cell detection

Patent Citations (11)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4366314A (en) * 1980-04-01 1982-12-28 Bayer Aktiengesellschaft Dimethine dyestuffs, their preparation and their use for dyeing synthetic and natural materials
US6696430B1 (en) * 1998-05-08 2004-02-24 Gerrit Reinold Jacob Melles Use of vital dye for facilitating surgical procedures for vitreo-retinal surgery
US6720314B1 (en) * 1998-05-08 2004-04-13 Gerrit Reinold J. Melles Use of a vital dye for facilitating surgical procedures for cataract extraction
US20040197268A1 (en) * 1999-06-10 2004-10-07 Augelli-Szafran Corinne Elizabeth Method of imaging amyloid deposits using substituted rhodanine derivatives
US20030144247A1 (en) * 2000-04-03 2003-07-31 Mitsuaki Kuwano Transporters and drug delivery system using the same
US20040256002A1 (en) * 2002-07-29 2004-12-23 Tamotsu Horiuchi Organic dye, photoelectric transducing material, semiconductor electrode, and photoelectric transducing device
US20080090914A1 (en) * 2004-12-06 2008-04-17 National University Corporation Kyushu University Staining Composition For Staining An Ophthalmic Membrane
US20080206149A1 (en) * 2005-06-17 2008-08-28 Ludwig-Maximilians-Universitat Munchen Method, dye and medicament for staining the internal limiting membrane, epiretinal membrane, the vitreous and/or the capsule of an eye
US20110243850A1 (en) * 2008-12-25 2011-10-06 Canon Kabushiki Kaisha Probe for a biological specimen and labelling method and screening method using the probe
US20110182810A1 (en) * 2009-12-25 2011-07-28 Canon Kabushiki Kaisha Central nervous system labelling composition for intranasal administration and labelling method and screening method using central nervous system labelling composition for intranasal administration
US20110189096A1 (en) * 2009-12-25 2011-08-04 Canon Kabushiki Kaisha Central nervous system tissue-labeling composition, method for labeling central nervous system tissue, and screening method using central nervous system tissue-labeling composition

Non-Patent Citations (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Title
Jansma et al. Analyticla Chemistry, 77(19) p 6509-6515, 2005 *

Cited By (17)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US9801960B2 (en) 2008-12-25 2017-10-31 Canon Kabushiki Kaisha Probe for a biological specimen and labelling method and screening method using the probe
US20110189096A1 (en) * 2009-12-25 2011-08-04 Canon Kabushiki Kaisha Central nervous system tissue-labeling composition, method for labeling central nervous system tissue, and screening method using central nervous system tissue-labeling composition
US9649392B2 (en) 2009-12-25 2017-05-16 Canon Kabushiki Kaisha Central nervous system labelling composition for intranasal administration and labelling method and screening method using central nervous system labelling composition for intranasal administration
US10227337B2 (en) 2011-02-16 2019-03-12 Canon Kabushiki Kaisha Evaluation probe for central nervous system permeability, evaluation method for central nervous system permeability, and screening method using an evaluation probe for central nervous system permeability
US9066682B2 (en) * 2011-03-10 2015-06-30 Sony Corporation Fundus imaging apparatus and fundus imaging method
US20120229769A1 (en) * 2011-03-10 2012-09-13 Sony Corporation Fundus imaging apparatus and fundus imaging method
US8926740B2 (en) 2011-07-27 2015-01-06 Canon Kabushiki Kaisha Pigment dispersion, and resist composition for color filter and ink composition each using the pigment dispersion
US8951340B2 (en) 2011-10-04 2015-02-10 Canon Kabushiki Kaisha Water-insoluble coloring matter compound, ink using the water-insoluble coloring matter compound, thermal transfer recording sheet and resist composition for color filter
CN102634224A (en) * 2012-03-21 2012-08-15 大连理工大学 4-N substituted anthracene pyridone fluorescent dye and preparation method and application thereof
US9228952B2 (en) * 2012-07-11 2016-01-05 Canon Kabushiki Kaisha Hematopoietic stem cell identification probe
US20140017722A1 (en) * 2012-07-11 2014-01-16 Canon Kabushiki Kaisha Hematopoietic stem cell identification probe
US10041937B2 (en) 2013-05-30 2018-08-07 Canon Kabushiki Kaisha Macrophage identification agent, and identification method, sorting method, evaluation method, screening method and kit using the macrophage identifier agent
US10907196B2 (en) 2016-12-22 2021-02-02 Illumina Cambridge Limited Coumarin compounds and their uses as fluorescent labels
US11371078B2 (en) 2016-12-22 2022-06-28 Illumina Cambridge Limited Coumarin compounds and their uses as fluorescent labels
CN111100627A (en) * 2019-12-20 2020-05-05 中国科学院化学研究所 Fluorescent probe and application thereof
CN114981649A (en) * 2019-12-23 2022-08-30 美国雅培糖尿病护理公司 Analyte sensor featuring low potential detection and sensing method
CN111397998A (en) * 2020-04-26 2020-07-10 中烨(山东)检验检测有限公司 Staining solution for tissue cell section

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
EP2370110A1 (en) 2011-10-05
EP2370110A4 (en) 2015-09-02
WO2010074325A1 (en) 2010-07-01
US9764046B2 (en) 2017-09-19
EP2370110B1 (en) 2017-08-02
JP2010168369A (en) 2010-08-05
US20150139908A1 (en) 2015-05-21

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
US9764046B2 (en) Labeling composition for intraocular tissue, labeling method of intraocular tissue, and screening method
US20160361442A1 (en) Central nervous system tissue-labeling composition, method for labeling central nervous system tissue, and screening method using central nervous system tissue-labeling composition
JP5538715B2 (en) Retinal tissue staining composition, retinal tissue staining method
US8460639B2 (en) Probe for a hair cell, and labelling method for a hair cell using the probe for a hair cell
JP5688899B2 (en) Labeling agent for biological sample, labeling method and screening method using the labeling agent
CN105813648A (en) Chlorotoxin conjugates and methods of use thereof
JP5733715B2 (en) Nasal central nervous system tissue labeling composition, labeling method and screening method using nasal central nervous system tissue labeling composition
US10227337B2 (en) Evaluation probe for central nervous system permeability, evaluation method for central nervous system permeability, and screening method using an evaluation probe for central nervous system permeability
US20030138374A1 (en) Image diagnosis probe based on substituted azobenzene or analogue thereof for disease attributable to amyloid accumulation and composition for image diagnosis containing the same
JP2023537627A (en) Compounds and compositions for tumor detection and surgical guidance
TW202214308A (en) bioimaging agent

Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
AS Assignment

Owner name: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA, JAPAN

Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNORS:WATANABE, KOHEI;SHINTOU, TAICHI;NOMOTO, TSUYOSHI;AND OTHERS;SIGNING DATES FROM 20110428 TO 20110520;REEL/FRAME:026632/0129

STCB Information on status: application discontinuation

Free format text: ABANDONED -- FAILURE TO RESPOND TO AN OFFICE ACTION