An international team, including researchers from the National Center for Tumor Diseases (NCT/UCC) in Dresden and chemistry Nobel laureate David Baker, has created the first proteins designed to emit light in the near-infrared (NIR) and short-wave infrared (SWIR) spectrum. The breakthrough, published recently in the Journal of the American Chemical Society, opens new possibilities for non-invasive imaging deep within biological tissues.
Traditional fluorescence imaging struggles at depth because visible light scatters and is absorbed by tissue. NIR and SWIR light, by contrast, can penetrate several centimeters, offering a window into previously inaccessible biological processes. Until now, no naturally occurring protein emitted light efficiently at these longer wavelengths.
The team used computational protein design to build entirely new light-emitting molecules from scratch. This approach, pioneered by Baker—who won the 2024 Nobel Prize in Chemistry for his work—allowed researchers to tailor the proteins' optical properties at the atomic level. The study featured shared first authorship, though specific authors were not named in the announcement.
If validated in living organisms, these designer proteins could transform medical diagnostics by enabling real-time imaging of tumors, inflammation, or drug delivery without surgical intervention. They may also advance basic research, allowing scientists to watch cellular activity unfold in live animals over hours or days.
The work remains early-stage, tested primarily in vitro. Questions about toxicity, stability in complex biological environments, and the brightness required for clinical use have yet to be addressed. Some experts caution that translating designed proteins from the lab to the clinic often takes more than a decade.