Imaging of myelin basic protein

A method of imaging myelin basic protein in a surgical field comprising the steps of:

• contacting the surgical site with an agent that binds specifically to myelin basic protein and wherein the agent comprises;
• a compound of Formula I, a 13C enriched compound of Formula I, an 19F-labeled derivative of Formula I, or a radioisotope derivative of Formula I
• wherein R1 is an alkyl group;
• R2 is an electron donating group and R3 is an electron withdrawing group;
• or
• R2 is an electron withdrawing group and R3 is an electron donating group;
• and detecting the agent;
• and
• wherein said agent has a large Stokes shift, as measured by at least a 100 nm shift in peak emission of the agent compared to peak excitation of the agent in DMSO.

A method of quantifying the amount of myelin present in a tissue sample comprising:

• contacting the tissue sample with an agent that binds specifically to myelin basic protein wherein the agent comprises;
• a compound of Formula I, a 13C enriched compound of Formula I, an 19F-labeled derivative of Formula I, or a radioisotope derivative of Formula I;
• wherein R1 is an alkyl group;
• R2 is an electron donating group and R3 is an electron withdrawing group;
• or
• R2 is an electron withdrawing group and R3 is an electron donating group;
• detecting myelinated tissue in the tissue sample by detecting the agent present in the tissue sample wherein said agent has a large Stokes shift, as measured by at least a 100 nm shift in peak emission of the agent compared to peak excitation of the agent in DMSO;
• and
• quantifying the amount of the agent present in the tissue sample by comparing to a baseline measurement of myelin basic protein in a control sample.

A kit for detecting myelin-associated neuropathy in a subject comprising:

• an agent that binds specifically to myelin basic protein wherein the agent comprises a compound of Formula I, a 13C enriched compound of Formula I, an 19F-labeled derivative of Formula I, or a radioisotope derivative of Formula I
• wherein R1 is an alkyl group;
• R2 is an electron donating group and R3 is an electron withdrawing group;
• or
• R2 is an electron withdrawing group and R3 is an electron donating group;
• and
• wherein said agent has a large Stokes shift, as measured by at least a 100 nm shift in peak emission of the agent compared to peak excitation of the agent in DMSO;
• and a pharmaceutical carrier.