Tunable aggregation of gold-silica janus nanoparticles to enable contrast-enhanced multiwavelength photoacoustic imaging in vivo

Abstract

Photoacoustic imaging using exogenous contrast agents has emerged as a hybrid technique that enables the deep imaging of optical properties of tissues with high spatial resolution. The power of this imaging technique can be greatly enhanced by the use of contrast agents that absorb at near-infrared wavelengths and whose optical properties can be modulated in response to the local environment. We have designed contrast agents consisting of gold nanoparticles coated with anisotropic silica nanoshells. The tunable aggregation of these janus particles in cell culture media resulted in a dramatic amplification of photoacoustic signals in the near-infrared region. We also demonstrated imaging using these contrast agents in mammalian cells, including macrophages and breast cancer cells as well as in vivo. The ability to modulate janus particle aggregation in response to a range of stimuli in combination with the high resolution and deep penetration of multiwavelength photoacoustic imaging are attractive for a broad range of applications in diagnostic imaging and theranostics.

Photothermal therapy and photoacoustic imaging via nanotheranostics in fighting cancer

“…For instance, compared to the fully silica coated gold nanoshells, the use of anisotropic silica coated-Au NPs have been recently reported to enhance PAI abilities in vivo. 422 According to the design, the partially exposed gold surface could interact to form plasmon-coupled aggregates in a tumor environment resulting in higher NIR photoacoustic intensity and better imaging resolution. In brief, strategies encompassing absorption modulation either via surface coating or aggregation of plasmonic nanomaterials, effective heat transfer mechanism, and background signal reduction are essential tools for the amplification of photoacoustic signal in tumor imaging.…”

Inorganic–inorganic nanohybrids for drug delivery, imaging and photo-therapy: recent developments and future scope

“…For example, graphene oxide modied Au-SiO 2 core-shell nanohybrids were developed for PA signal generation and bimodal imaging via PA and uorescence. 129 Similarly, gold/silica nanohybrids were tested for their in vivo PAI effects by Park et al (2018). 130 Unlike other inorganic hybrid NPs, these coating-or stabilizer-free nanohybrids show unbelievable improvements in vivo, which should be understood and well studied for further clinical applications.…”

Release of Warfarin from Human Serum Albumin by Water‐soluble CdSe Nanotetrapods

“…[1][2][3][4][5] In recent times, the focus has shifted to a large extent on various exotic semiconductor nanocrystals. [6][7][8] CdSe nanotetrapods are Type-II core-shell nanostructures belonging to this family of nanocrystals due to the presence of zinc blende core. [9][10][11][12][13][14][15][16] From (111) facets of this cubic zinc blende crystal facets, four nanorods with wurtzite-type hexagonal close packed structure protrude and terminate in the (0001) facet.…”