Next-Generation Colloidal Materials for Ultrasound Imaging Applications

Mesoporous, anisotropic nanostructures from bioinspired polymeric catecholamine neurotransmitters and their potential application as photoacoustic imaging agents

“…54 Due to the smaller size of the nanoaggregates in comparison with the nanobowls, nano-golf balls and smooth nanospheres, these particles by themselves would generate photoacoustic spectra with maxima at higher frequencies, which are potentially undetectable by the photoacoustic imaging system used. Photoacoustic signals of the smooth nanospheres, nanobowls, and nano-golf balls ideally have peak values at lower frequencies, which may have better spectral overlap with the detection range of the Vevo LZ250 transducer (13)(14)(15)(16)(17)(18)(19)(20)(21)(22)(23)(24).…”

“…20 Furthermore, due to the similar optical and spectral properties of PDA, PNE, and PEP, it can be inferred that the latter two materials would also exhibit optoacoustic properties that can equal those of PDA. 19…”

“…Similar to dopamine (DA), norepinephrine (NE) and epinephrine (EP) can be polymerised spontaneously under alkaline pH conditions, and self-assembled into transformable nanostructures with colloidal stability under certain reaction conditions. [19][20][21][22] Moreover, these bioinspired polymers (PNE and PEP) have been reported to be biocompatible in both in vitro and in vivo studies. 20,[23][24][25] Therefore, a range of studies have demonstrated the potential of PNE and PEP in various biomedical fields, including in the development of efficient nanomedicines, metal ion reduction and sensing, contrast-enhanced ultrasound imaging, and imaging-guided treatments.…”

“…20 Furthermore, due to the similar optical and spectral properties of PDA, PNE, and PEP, it can be inferred that the latter two materials would also exhibit optoacoustic properties that can equal those of PDA. 19 In the current study, we report different fabrication process parameters based on a one-pot, a soft template fabrication method for PDA nanobowls to induce mesoporous nanobowl formation by PNE and mesoporous nanosphere (or ''nano-golf ball'') formation by PEP for the first time. We have demonstrated a strong photoacoustic enhancing efficiency of the synthesised mesoporous nanobowls, which could be potentially used in vasculature imaging.…”