Copper Sulfide Perfluorocarbon Nanodroplets as Clinically Relevant Photoacoustic/Ultrasound Imaging Agents

Abstract

We have developed laser-activated perfluorocarbon nanodroplets containing copper sulfide nanoparticles (CuS NPs) for contrast-enhanced ultrasound and photoacoustic imaging. As potential clinical contrast agents, CuS NPs have favorable properties including biocompatibility, biodegradability, and enhance contrast in photoacoustic images at clinically relevant depths. However, CuS NPs are not efficient optical absorbers when compared to plasmonic nanoparticles and therefore, contrast enhancement with CuS NPs is limited, requiring high concentrations to generate images with sufficient signal-to-noise ratio. We have combined CuS NPs with laser-activated perfluorocarbon nanodroplets (PFCnDs) to achieve enhanced photoacoustic contrast and, more importantly, ultrasound contrast while retaining the favorable clinical characteristics of CuS NPs. The imaging characteristics of synthesized CuS-PFCnD constructs were first tested in tissue-mimicking phantoms and then in in vivo murine models. The results demonstrate that CuS-PFCnDs enhance contrast in photoacoustic (PA) and ultrasound (US) imaging. Upon systemic administration in vivo, CuS-PFCnDs remain stable and their unique vaporization provides sufficient PA/US contrast that can be further exploited for contrast-enhanced background-free imaging. The conducted studies provide a solid foundation for further development of CuS-PFCnDs as PA/US diagnostic and eventually therapeutic agents for clinical applications.

Photoacoustic Imaging: Contrast Agents and Their Biomedical Applications

“…The nanoagent has been employed as an excellent PA‐imaging agent of HeLa tumor cells, which have a high expression of the folate receptor. CuS NPs have also been extensively used as PA contrast agents (Figure D) . For example, Yang et al designed a CuS‐based PA agent (CuS‐peptide‐BHQ3) (CPQ)) for in vivo matrix‐metalloproteinase sensing .…”

“…These results suggested that the N4 contrast agent possessed the merits of excellent biocompatibility, photostability, and rapid body clearance, therefore, inhibiting cancer metastasis at SLNs through PA‐imaging‐guided PTT. Recently, Emelianov and co‐workers combined CuS NPs and laser‐activated perfluorocarbon nanodroplets as a contrast agent in the NIR absorption window at 1064 nm for hyperpermeable LN vasculature imaging by both PA and US . The CuS NPs were used as a photoabsorber to initiate the vaporization of perfluorocarbon nanodroplets, leading to phase‐change and a subsequent enhanced PA signal, generating a gaseous perfluorocarbon microbubble to increase the US contrast signal (Figure G).…”

“…Copyright 2016, Wiley‐VCH. (G) Reproduced with permission . Copyright 2017, American Chemical Society.…”

Оптоакустическое Исследование И Моделирование Оптических Свойств Композитов Циклотриметилентринитрамин-Ультрадисперсные Частицы Никеля

“…Оптоакустическая спектроскопия является общепринятым способом исследования оптических свойств материалов. Она показала свою применимость при измерении малых концентраций газов в воздухе [27,28], определении оптических свойств материалов с сильным поглощением света [20,29] и высокопористых образцов [30]. В биомедицинской области развиваются методы оптоакустической томографии для диагностики онкологических заболеваний [31].…”

Ultra‐Early Diagnosis of Acute Myocardial Infarction in Rats Using Ultrasound Imaging of Hollow Double‐Layer Silica Nanospheres

“…Several types of hollow materials have been exploited as US contrast agents, including inorganic species (such as SiO 2 and carbon nanotubes [CNTs]) and metal/covalent organic frameworks (MOFs and COFs). Among these materials, silica is an attractive choice for biomedical imaging . US imaging applications of silica nanoparticles have been aided by numerous synthetic techniques to form particles with diverse sizes and structures, robust in vivo stability, and minimal toxicity .…”