Enhanced hotoacoustic neuroimaging with gold nanorods and PEBBLEs

Russell S. Witte, K. Kim, A. Ashish, W. Fan, R. Kopelman, N. Kotov, D. Kipke, M. O'Donnell

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference contribution

7 Scopus citations

Abstract

Photoacoustic (PA) imaging provides excellent optical contrast with decent penetration and high spatial resolution, making it attractive for a variety of neural applications. We evaluated optical contrast agents with high absorption in the near infrared (NIR) as potential enhancers for PA neuroimaging: optical dyes, gold nanorods (GNRs) and PEBBLEs loaded with indocyanine green. Two PA systems were developed to test these agents in excised neural tissue and in vivo mouse brain. Lobster nerves were stained with the agents for 30 minutes and placed in a hybrid nerve chamber capable of electrical stimulation and recording, optical spectroscopy and PA imaging. Contrast agents boosted the PA signal by at least 30 dB using NIR illumination from a tunable pulsed laser. Photobleaching may be a limiting factor for optical dyes-the PA signal decreased steadily with laser illumination. The second setup enabled in vivo transcranial imaging of the mouse brain. A custom clinical ultrasound scanner and a 10-MHz linear array provided near real-time images during and after an injection of 2 nM gold nanorods into the tail vein. The peak PA signal from the brain vasculature was enhanced by up to 2 dB at 710 nm. Temporal dynamics of the PA signal were also consistent with mixing of the GNRs in the blood. These studies provide a baseline for enhanced PA imaging in neural tissue. The smart contrast agents employed in this study can be further engineered for molecular targeting and controlled drug delivery with potential treatment for a myriad of neural disorders.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Title of host publicationPhotons Plus Ultrasound
Subtitle of host publicationImaging and Sensing 2008: The Ninth Conference on Biomedical Thermoacoustics, Optoacoustics, and Acousto-optics
DOIs
StatePublished - 2008
Event9th Conference on Photons Plus Ultrasound: Imaging and Sensing 2008 - San Jose, CA, United States
Duration: Jan 20 2008Jan 23 2008

Publication series

NameProgress in Biomedical Optics and Imaging - Proceedings of SPIE
Volume6856
ISSN (Print)1605-7422

Other

Other9th Conference on Photons Plus Ultrasound: Imaging and Sensing 2008
Country/TerritoryUnited States
CitySan Jose, CA
Period1/20/081/23/08

Keywords

  • Cancer
  • Invertebrate nerves
  • Molecular imaging
  • Mouse brain imaging
  • Neural engineering
  • Optical dyes
  • Optoacoustic
  • Ultrasound

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Electronic, Optical and Magnetic Materials
  • Atomic and Molecular Physics, and Optics
  • Biomaterials
  • Radiology Nuclear Medicine and imaging

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