Photoacoustic Tomography of a Nanoshell Contrast Agent in the in Vivo Rat Brain

Abstract

This study demonstrates the feasibility of using nanoshells in vivo as a new contrast-enhancing agent for photoacoustic tomography. Deep penetrating near-infrared light was employed to image the in vivo distribution of poly(ethylene glycol)-coated nanoshells circulating in the vasculature of a rat brain. The images, captured after three sequential administrations of nanoshells, present a gradual enhancement of the optical absorption in the brain vessels by up to 63%. Subsequent clearance of the nanoshells from the blood was imaged for ∼6 h after the administrations.