Combined PARP1-Targeted Nuclear Contrast and Reflectance Contrast Enhance Confocal Microscopic Detection of Basal Cell Carcinoma

Abstract

Reflectance confocal microscopy (RCM) with endogenous backscattered contrast can noninvasively image basal cell carcinomas (BCCs) in skin. However, BCCs present with high nuclear density and the relatively weak backscattering from nuclei impose a fundamental limit on contrast, detectability, and diagnostic accuracy. We investigated PARPi-FL, an exogenous nuclear poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP1)targeted fluorescent contrast agent and fluorescence confocal microscopy (FCM) towards improving BCC diagnosis.