Time machine: Can a dye from 1928 be re-purposed for modern, fluorescence-based detection of amyloid-like fibrils?

Abstract

This manuscript describes the chemical synthesis of a compound similar to fluorene and Congo red, including characterization of its spectral properties. It was shown that the dye, during interaction with amyloid-like fibrils of several proteins (lysozyme, insulin, and beta-2-microglobulin), has the ability to change fluorescent spectrum. In contrast, monomeric forms of these proteins did not induce significant spectral changes.