CCN2 and keloid: In particular, the expression of connective tissue growth factor (CTGF) was measured as a visual indicator of hypertrophic scars and keloids utilizing the imaging nanoprobes for the live-cell detection of intracellular messenger RNA (mRNA) (also known as NanoFlares, i.e., with fluorescence flare strands that were detachable upon mRNA hybridization (Figure 8A)).