Fig. 4. Dual-probe 3 was specifically activated by excised atherosclerotic plaques. (a) Representative image of excised atherosclerotic plaque. Scale bar 5 mm. (b) Cleavage and subsequent activation of dual-probe 3 by atherosclerotic tissue was determined by measuring relative fluorescence increase at ex/em 485/528 nm (FAM) and 640/670 nm (Cy5) over 60 min. (c) Fold-change in fluorescence over 60 min. Data is the mean of three independent samples. Error bars represent s.e.m. (d) MALDI-TOF MS analysis was performed after incubation with the atherosclerotic plaque. The peak at 2459.9 Da indicates combined thrombin and MMP cleavage (Fig. 2 and Fig. S6† for further detail).
